Take Two ProjectOur framing question: How do web 2.0
technologies Impact Museum Learning and Practice?Our focus: On a
science museum blog (Science Buzz) and on the impact that web 2.0
technologies on museum practice (MLS).Our big question: Do online
interactions rise to the level of co- construction of
knowledge?
Understanding Online InteractionIn Take 2, our investigation of
online activity relied ondiscourse analysis to characterize that
activity, focusing onfour major rhetorical acts:
Take Two ProjectSome high level findings: The Buzz blog is a
site where informal argumentation happens. Lots of it There were
also high levels of identity work There was meaningful community
building work as well Facilitation seemed to be a big deal Clear
styles of facilitation were visible These styles seemed to be
associated with different outcomesAnd so we thought this merited
more exploration
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Learning is an ongoing process of change due to
interactionsbetween individuals and their social and physical
environments.This ecological perspective emphasizes that the
activity of learning isshaped by learners interests and needs,
their prior experiences, theircompanions, facilitators, and other
distinctive features of their specificsocio-cultural and physical
environments.In our people-centered view of an online learning
ecology, we seeevidence of learning through the examination of an
individualsadaptations, which may be observed in many ways
including theiractions, language, emotions and practices.For our
study of online learning environments, we are particularlyconcerned
with facilitation, such aslistening, questioning, involving,
encouraging, and redirecting, whichplay an important role in
creating strong learning environments.
Understanding Online InteractionIn Facilitation, our
investigation of online activity also reliedon discourse analysis
to characterize that activity: Change Learning Discourse
Facilitation Environment Change in action, Claim Introducing ideas
thinking or values Citing authority Suggesting follow up Sympathy
or empathy Citing evidence actions that shows a change in
Explanations Demonstrating sympathy thought or feeling Articulation
of shared or empathy Use of technical or roles or experiences
Demonstrating respect scientific concepts or Invocation of place,
for perspective or identity language evidence, or status
Invitations (to connect, to Other change move Use of values,
affect, or develop ideas) technology Redirection Other DE move
Provocation Construction of connection between ideas or people
Facilitation MovesIntroducing new ideasStatement introduces a
new idea, concept, or example thathas not been previously
statedSuggesting follow-up actionsStatement providing advice or
direction to anothersexploration of a subjectDemonstrating sympathy
or empathyAn explicit statement recognizing or relating to
emotionsexperienced by anotherDemonstrating respect for perspective
or identityAn explicit statement demonstrating a positive response
toanothers account of their actions or identity
Facilitation MovesInvitation developmentAn explicit request to
explain or expand for understandingInvitation connectionAn explicit
request to explain or expand to foster connection tothe ideas of
othersRedirectionA statement or request that explicitly changes the
focus of theconversationProvokingA statement playing devils
advocate or explicitly naming ataboo subject that participants are
talking around
Facilitation MovesConstruction of a connection between ideas or
peopleExplicit reference within the thread that indexes aspecific
name or idea in a previous post
Preliminary FindingsThere are three facilitation moves that are
associated withchange: 1. Invitations (connection in particular but
also development) 2. Construction of connections between people and
ideasIt is clear that experimonth itself has agency: 1. Activities
that create heightened awareness 2. Activities that ask people to
share things (pictures, links, articles, etc.) 3. Technology and
cultures that allow for meaningful conversations to happen 4.
Experimonth facilitators
