Coming Soon to a Social Media Network Near You!

It's no secret that the Eppley Institute website has gone through some major changes over the last year with the addition of Twitter feeds, blogs, and a complete redesign of the home page. What may not be known is Eppley is also breaking new ground in distance education with its partnership with the Arthur Carhart Wilderness Training Center in developing an online course that infuses social media.

There are many studies that find benefits of using social media in distance education. In a highly-saturated media world, very few students learn independently in isolation. We share thoughts, new products, and network like never before; we are cooperative learners that help shape and define learning experiences that become long-term knowledge.

Even federal agencies are picking up on the idea of social media to promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Wilderness.net has developed a sister site for wilderness professionals that incorporates social media at its best. Following research conducted by Lisa Eidson at the University of Montana's College of Forestry and Conservation on the barriers to online learning, the Eppley/Carhart partnership seeks to harness content knowledge with social interaction to reinforce learning in new ways using this social media forum. This definitely gives new meaning to what will be considered "old school"!