Jim HensmanCoventry University/Serious Games Institute, UK

Edmedia 2012, Denver

New Connections and Wider Dimensions: Creating Collaborations and Linking Research to Emerging

Trends

Human Brain 100 million neurons

1000-10,000connectionsfrom each

1 million newconnectionseach second

Knowledge is Connection - Individual Intelligence

Knowledge is Connection - Collective IntelligenceHow do we connect?

Prolific/ Diverse

Selective Dynamic

What kinds of connection and where do we find them?All important, but increased specialisation makes

wider scope and interdisciplinary connectionsparticularly relevant

“TEL is itself an inherently interdisciplinary field … Interdisciplinarity is key to the successful future of TEL research.” - Grainne Conole et al, Interdisciplinary research: Findings from the Technology Enhanced Learning Research Programme, 2010

New areas of research and emerging trendsTools and Techniques - the Edmedia Community and

Emerging Scholars ExamplesApproach and Principles

Overview

PhD Research at a ScottishUniversity on … Wallpaper

Uses very similar texture analysistechniques as used in Colonoscopyresearch (which also connects to research in Metallurgy, GIS, Graphic Design etc.)

How does your research connect to Cancer Research ?

“An estimated 60% of cancer deaths could be prevented if people age 50 and older participated in regular screenings. Professionals need to recommend screening and educate older adults to make the choice for screening” (US Government Health Agency – CDC)

Example: Cancer Research

Kinds of ConnectionPart of wider issues or questions

Nearly all current disciplines had historical origins from many complex sources e.g., Science from Natural Philosophy

Could become a discipline in its own right e.g., Psychoneuroimmunology (Psychology, Neuroscience,

Immunology etc.)Methodology or techniques in common with other

disciplinesMay be simple

e.g., EvaluationConceptual, Metacognitive or Serendipitous

Sometimes can lead to major advances in knowledge e.g., Relativity

Identifying and evaluating trends and new developmentsEdmedia 2002 paper

- Debunking the Buzz Words OR Can hermeneutic analysis be used to evaluate pedagogically based learning objects designed from constructivist epistemological ontologies defined in XML Metadata? (Stuckey, B., Hensman, J., et al)

Where are these Buzz Words now?Learning Objects

2002 11 papers

2012 3 papers

What does this signify?

Growth areas- Systems and Models (from technical and educational perspectives); Case studies; Strategies (for effectiveness and motivation); Large Projects; Medical, Training and Lifelong Learning applications

Major Emphasis Changes- For major technology introductions ( e.g., VLE/LMS), research emphasis shifts from technical implementation (e.g., architecture and standards) to learning applications(Jui-long Hung, Trends of e-learning research from 2000 to 2008: Use of text mining and bibliometrics , BJET,Vol 43 No 1, 2012)

E-Learning Research Trends

(Educause Horizon Reports [2010-2012]. Bibliometric Analysis – Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic Search)

Technical Developments and their Research ImpactsTime Scale Technology Published Academic Papers (in a learning

context)Immediate Mobile Computing Many papers over the years, growing 2003 on,

with fastest rise around 2010, slower recentlyOpen Content Growing 2007 on, fast particularly to 2010-11,

especially around Open Educational ResourcesElectronic Books Papers over many years. Fast growth around

2009-10. Slower recentlyTablet Computing Many papers over the years – but older mainly

on graphics interfaces. Fast recent growth, centred on Ipad use

Short Term 

Augmented Reality Papers mainly in last 5 years. Fast recent growth

Computer Games Many papers over the years, growth in last 7, generally fairly slow, faster on Game-based learning

Learning analytics Very few papers, mainly in last 5 years. Very rapid recent growth

Medium Term Gesture-Based Computing Fewest papers, nearly all in last 3 years. Rapid growth

Internet of Things Few papers, nearly all in last 5 years. Rapid growth

Hype Cycles (e.g., Gartner)Many critiques, but worth consideration

Disruptive Technology/Innovation (Christensen et al) Innovation may not initially be appropriate to where later it has most

impact e.g., Personal Computer impact on mini and mainframe markets

Applicable beyond technology and emphasises importance of wide and interdisciplinary connections e.g., Learning Objects -> Research Objects (Force 11), Collaborative Learning

Objects etc.

Different aspects of learning (e.g., Technology – Pedagogy) can develop in different ways and at different rates

Trend metrics can be helpful – but must be drilled down into where necessary (e.g., Zhang and Hung – Mobile Learning) and used and interpreted together with qualitative analysis

Identifying and evaluating trends

Tools and techniques – Edmedia Connections

ConnectApp Application using Edmedia 2012 Presentation Data

Tool to display weightedmatches between researchers based on multiple factors (publications, interestsetc.)

Can be used to findlinks between different communities (e.g., withSPIRES community onresearch environments)

Can integrate with otherknowledge tools , such asontologies, to providepowerful composite facilities

ConnectApp Application using Edmedia 2012 Presentation Data

Tools and techniques – Edmedia Connections

Tools and techniques – Expertise Mapping & OntologyAllows wider

matches and complex connections to be found

Metrics fordistance between concepts and emerging trendscan be included

Inferences can be made and potential areas for newresearch deduced

Tools can enable and facilitate – but individual and collective motivation to make connections is key. “Seek and ye shall find”

Use Physical, Virtual and Mixed Environments and Spaces for Meeting, Discussion and Social Networking

Consider how knowledge, expertise and experience are represented, organised and shared

Academic publications and formal conferences are not necessarily the best method!

Organisational and Cultural barriers have to be expected - and overcome

Building Networks and Communities

Be reflective Look at your own research from the outside and in as many different

contexts as possible Consider how your research could be relevant to others, as well as

how you could use other research Connections can provide mutually beneficial insights as well as

collaborative opportunitiesBe reflexive

Look at your research as an object of research – from a methodological, technical, social or psychological point of view

e.g., SPIRES Community( Supporting People who Investigate Research Environments and Spaces) – from VREs to PhD Student – Supervisor relationships

Methods you use in your research may provide valuable insights when applied to your own research

That we only use 10% of our brains, may be a myth – but we certainly use much less of our potential collective brain!

Some Conclusions

Questions and CommentsAsk me to suggest connections for you

- Success is guaranteed!Further Information

A community to look at and join if interested- www.spiresnetwork.org (can provide grants)

Serendipitous Connections- www.serena.ac.uk

More information about some of the work mentioned– project-brain.org (+ project-inspires.org)

Thank You!j.hensman@coventry.ac.uk