Over the past few years the increased computational power of mobile phones and the proliferation of social software (Web 2.0) have transformed students' social interactions. However, can tools intended for social use be productively integrated into students' formal learning?

The Thema project is addressing this question, as well as other aspects of students' technology use, by investigating the learning experiences of Master's students at Oxford University. In particular, we want to find out:

• How students' use of technology changes during their course;
• The "significant moments" in students' experience - both academic and social - and what part technology plays in them;
• The extent to which students are using the new social software such as Facebook, Flickr and blogs, and whether they feel these tools have a role in the formal curriculum;
• What it means to be an "effective" learner, and whether technology can help students to hone their skills in this respect.

Thema is funded by JISC as part of its Learner Experiences of E-learning programme and runs from 1st March 2007 to 30th November 2008. The project manager is Dr Liz Masterman.

More information about Thema is available on the Thema project wiki.