Technology-enabled learning communities

Course: BA QTS undergraduate computing modules

Assignment: Create and maintain a blogfolio as a reflective journal and multimodal portfolio of work

Tools: Edublogs Pro and Google+ community

Marking strands: use of the blog format, subject knowledge, reflection on pedagogy, contribution to group outcomes

Key idea:

The hybrid MOOC included a number of characteristics of authentic learning as outlined by Herrington and Oliver (2000), and these facilitated both some of the social interactions, changing of roles and ultimately the demonstration of learning which took place. This framework is based on the proposal that usable knowledge is best gained in in learning setting which feature a number of characteristics.The characteristics that were relevant to our CoP are:

To draw these social theories together we identified that Hoadley and Kilner’s C4P framework on how knowledge is created and disseminated by participants in a CoP offered the most flexible framework on which to apply our findings (Hoadley and Kilner, 2005).  The C4P framework is based on the idea that that knowledge is generated and shared when there is purposeful conversation around content within a context. This framework is based on the theory that knowledge and learning exist as by products of social processes that take place in a community of practice (2005, p1).

Analysis of interactions across a range of media using Atlas.ti.

Inductive examination of qualitative data to identify key themes.

Use of codes to explore relationships.

Visual content + Explanations = Transfer to practice

‘This (MOOC) is a complex hive for sure. The connection is very specific. A bee colony has a large community working together in a hive to achieve the same goal. Here, I've already seen many bee behaviours.

• Bees chipping in and helping with suggestions,
• a waggle dance to show others the way to good ideas and learning paths,
• passing resources from mouth to mouth until they become honey,
• encouragement for new bees and newbies,
• a cluster of bees together that generates warmth and security.’

Liz Jones, participant

Summary

According to social constructivism, influenced by Vygotsky's (1978) work, knowledge is constructed in a social context where meaning is made through interactions with each other. The social elements of the hybrid MOOC enabled the practical elements and the discussions about these (the social element) to converge, a point Vygotsky claimed is significant in the course of intellectual development.

Building an international community of practice preparing educators across sectors to use mobile devices effectively.

A 7 week structured programme of browsing and eTivities (See www.gillysalmon.com/e-tivities.html)  hosted in Blackboard Open Education together with a G+ community (bit.ly/GplusTWT16)