The changing learning landscape

What are the ‘pros and cons’ of social learning, networking and communities for learning?

Coach Carole

22 October 2008

"Put e-learning on your map'

"Put e-learning on your map' Where are you going? How will you communicate during your

travels? How can e-learning help you? In this session we will explore some innovative methods of

engaging others in e-learning from a social networking point of view.

Introducing the concepts of e-learning to groups of tutors and teachers can be a real challenge and this year I've used the metaphor of 'journey' to engage with my e-mentors in the Hume region. In this session I'm going to take the concept one step further and look at how you can 'map' the journey using some of the social networking (Web 2.0) tools from a travel perspective.

Over the years I've seen great successes with the introduction of digital storytelling into educational activities - one of the main reasons for its success has been its engagement with the participants from a personally rewarding perspective. I can now see that the use of such tools as wikis, blogs, flickr, you tube, delicious and twitter can be the vehicles for enabling a greater understanding and implementation of e-learning if you first appeal to the 'social' aspects of e-learning for the participant.

RationaleMy recent trips to England, Egypt and Europe

provided an opportunity to make use of some social networking tools to keep in touch with family and friends

This caused me to rethink how I might introduce such tools to groups of new e-learning enthusiasts using a mapping approach

Make use of travel pictures, blogs, and stories to engage new learners in using: flickr, blogger and photo story OR bubbleshare, wordpress and voicethread

It is important to formulate strategies for providing exploration and communication time for participants

Key message 1:

Make the new learning relevant to social aspects of participants’ lives e.g. travel

Reflections of our elearning JourneyFrom Wikis to Live Blogging

One month before – set up a collaborative wikiFirst contact in a Live Blog.

From Blogs to Learning Management SystemsOne month in – provide blog posting experienceOn request – provide information on Moodle.

From Skype to ElluminateFor the duration of the project – use SkypeOccasionally – use Elluminate.

Emerging IssuesLack of time to exploreFinding space and avoiding interruptionsGetting colleagues onsidePreparing a plan..................

Key Message 2:

Start slowly and build an itinerary collaboratively

Map of e-learning possibilities

Wikis

Blogs

SkypeLMS

Elluminate

TwitterLive

Blogging

Surveymonkey

Wikipedia

DeliciousLive

ClassroomBlogosphereLive

Twitting

Second Life

Moodle

TAFE VC

Surveyshare

Wordpress

Adobe Connect

Gmail

Ning

Mapping a new journeyPhase One: learning about web 2.0 tools:Tools required:

Translator – provide an explanation of e-termsGuide - use an e-guideMap – create a visual mapResources – Social E-learning

http://socialelearning.flexiblelearning.net.au/social_elearning/index.htm

Phase Two: planning to use web 2.0 tools smartly:

Strategies required:Engagement– plan a journeyCollaboration – use collaborative tools (wiki)Communication – use preferred communication systemsResources – Designing E-learning

http://designing.flexiblelearning.net.au/

Phase One:

learning about web 2.0 tools:

Social e-learning

Begin with a strategy

Select a strategy, a tool and an

activity to explore

Create a collaborative wiki

For example:

Learn from others

Listen to people talking about their use of wikis

Wiki activities for participantsCreate a page for themselves in the

collaborative wikiPost some reflections about the use of wikis

in their pageCreate their own wikispaceDiscuss the pros and cons of using wikis in

a discussion forumDiscuss how wikis could be used in their

centres at a f2f meeting or at an online meeting in Skype

Key message 3:

Begin slowly with a guided tour

Choose another strategy

Select a strategy, a tool and an

activity to explore

Provide some reflection

Learn about different purposes

for blogging

Learn from others

Listen to other teachers talking

about how they use blogs

Blog activitiesCreate a blog for yourself and post entries

to itSend the blog URL to your colleagues and

ask them to post commentsDiscuss the issues about the use of blogs in

a discussion forumAsk them to create their own blog and post

entries, share the URLs with othersDiscuss the issues about using blogs in a

f2f meeting or at an online meeting in Skype

Key message 4:

Ensure that there is time to explore and consolidate learning

Phase Two:

planning to use web 2.0 tools smartly:

Blended E-learning Models

What could they look like?

Students

Teachers

Learning Management

System

Email

VirtualClassroom

Thin blended model

Students

Teachers

WIKIAnd

BLOG

Email

VirtualClassroom

An alternative thin blended model

Students

Teachers

Learning Management

SystemEmail

VirtualClassroom

Second Life

Students

Teachers

One with the lot

Students

Teachers

Choose your own

Students

Teachers

Designing e-learning

Key message 4:

Make use of the planning tools already provided

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Questions/Comments