Interconnecting networks of practice for professional learning

The article explores the complementary connections between communities of practice and the ways in which individuals orchestrate their engagement with others to further their professional learning. It does so by reporting on part of a research project conducted in New Zealand on teachers’ online professional learning in a university graduate diploma program on ICT education. Evolving from social constructivist pedagogy for online professional development, the research describes how teachers create their own networks of practice as they blend online and offline interactions with fellow learners and workplace colleagues. Teachers’ perspectives of their professional learning activities challenge the way universities design formal online learning communities and highlight the potential for networked learning in the zones and intersections between professional practice and study.
The article extends the concepts of Lave and Wenger’s (1991) communities of practice social theory of learning by considering the role participants play in determining their engagement and connections in and across boundaries between online learning communities and professional practice. It provides insights into the applicability of connectivist concepts for developing online pedagogies to promote socially networked

Learning cultures of problem-based learning teams

The learning experiences of first-year engineering students to a newly implemented engineering problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum is reported here, with an emphasis on student approaches to learning. Ethnographic approaches were used for data collection and analysis. This study found that student learning in a PBL team in this setting was mainly influenced by the attitudes, behaviour and learning approaches of the student members in that team. Three different learning cultures that emerged from the analysis of eight PBL teams are reported here. They are the finishing culture, the performing culture and the collaborative learning culture. It was found that the team that used a collaborative approach to learning benefited the most in this PBL setting. Students in this team approached learning at a deep level. The findings of this study imply that students in a problem-based, or project-based, learning setting may not automatically adopt a collaborative learning culture. Hence, it is important for institutions and teachers to identify and consider the factors that influence student learning in their particular setting, provide students with necessary tools and ongoing coaching to nurture deep learning approaches in PBL teams.

Collaboration Down Under : investigating team learning in Australia in architecture and related design contexts

This position paper reports on an Australian Learning Teaching Council (ALTC) funded project – “Enhancing and Assessing Group and Team Learning in Architecture and Related Design Contexts.” This is a two-year project, commencing in November 2011, which is investigating best practice in Australian higher education for the teaching of teamwork in the design disciplines, with a focus on Architecture. At the time of the conference presentation, data on current practices will be reported on that has been collected and analysed from four universities in Australia. The project aims to: highlight and develop innovative approaches to collaborative studio-based learning; structure team learning within curricula; develop graduate attributes for teamwork; and inform assessment of team design that supports team-working skills and increased learner confidence.

From dictatorship to democracy : simulating the politics of the middle east

 The use of an online diplomatic simulation to increase learning outcomes amongst students of MIddle East Politics. The chapter explores the gains to be had from such collaborative online learning, including the increased depth and breadth of knolwedge gained, the defeat of ethnocentricity, high levels of stduent engagement and the changing role of the teacher in this role play as learners become more self-directed.

Blending student technology experiences in formal and informal learning

In this article, we discuss the importance of recognizing students' technology-enhanced informal learning experiences and develop pedagogies to connect students' formal and informal learning experiences, in order to meet the demands of the knowledge society. The Mobile-Blended Collaborative Learning model is proposed as a framework to bridge the gap between formal and informal learning and blend them together to form a portable, flexible, collaborative and creative learning environment. Using this model, three categories of mobile application tools, namely tools for collaboration, tools for coordination and tools for communication, have been identified as pertinent in blending formal and informal learning, and they can be connected seamlessly to provide an effective learning mechanism to support the learning process.

Organisational learning as an emerging process: the generative role of digital tools in informal learning practices

 Increasing attention is paid to organisational learning, with the success of contemporary organisations strongly contingent on their ability to learn and grow. Importantly, informal learning is argued to be even more significant than formal learning initiatives. Given the widespread use of digital technologies in the workplace, what requires further attention is how digital technologies (eg, massive open online courses—MOOC) enable informal learning processes. Drawing from Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory, in this paper we advance a conceptual model for examining this important topic. The two dimensional matrix and the micro-level description of informal learning activities presented provide a framework for both further research on technology-mediated practices for informal learning, as well as the design of formative contexts for learning to occur.

Conditional reasoning: A key to assessing computer-based knowledge-building communication processes

This article describes a methodological approach to conditional reasoning in online asynchronous learning environments such as Virtual-U VGroups, developed by SFU, BC, Canada, consistent with the notion of meaning implication: If part of a meaning C is embedded in B and a part of a meaning B is embedded in A, then A implies C in terms of meaning [Piaget 91]. A new transcript analysis technique was developed to assess the flows of conditional meaning implications and to identify the occurrence of hypotheses and connections among them in two human science graduate mixed-mode online courses offered in the summer/spring session of 1997 by SFU. Flows of conditional meaning implications were confronted with Virtual-U VGroups threads and results of the two courses were compared. Findings suggest that Virtual-U VGroups is a knowledge-building environment although the tree-like Virtual-U VGroups threads should be transformed into neuronal-like threads. Findings also suggest that formulating hypotheses together triggers a collaboratively problem-solving process that scaffolds knowledge-building in asynchronous learning environments: A pedagogical technique and an built-in tool for formulating hypotheses together are proposed. © Springer Pub. Co.

Design instrucional: uma abordagem do design gráfico para o desenvolvimento de ferramentas de suporte à Educação a Distância

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

LABEXP - Laboratório de experimentação remota em tempo real

Este trabalho apresenta o processo de desenvolvimento e implementação do Laboratório de Experimentação Remota em Tempo Real (LabExp), atualmente em funcionamento na Universidade Federal do Pará, com o objetivo de funcionar como uma plataforma auxiliar para ensino e aprendizagem das disciplinas de sistemas de controle. O ensino e aprendizagem foram contemplados através da disponibilização de experimentos, onde os usuários poderão interagir com os mesmos, alterando parâmetros e observando o resultado desta interação. Além dos experimentos disponíveis, acredita-se que em ambientes de educação online é interessante disponibilizar aos alunos ferramentas que proporcionem maior interação entre alunos e professores e com o próprio laboratório remoto, proporcionando uma metodologia de aprendizado mais colaborativo, estimulando o aluno. Desta forma, são disponibilizadas aos alunos três aplicações: uma para envio de seus próprios experimentos; outra para interação com outros alunos, através de um fórum; e outra para o envio de suas opiniões/críticas. Antes do processo de desenvolvimento e implementação do LabExp, foi realizada uma análise sucinta sobre educação online, tendo em vista ser esta a finalidade do laboratório. Esta análise proporcionou maior conhecimento sobre esta metodologia de educação, orientando no restante do desenvolvimento do LabExp. Compreende-se que as tecnologias utilizadas não são determinantes para o desenvolvimento de um laboratório remoto, voltado para a educação online, entretanto experimentos remotos de sistemas de controle possuem uma restrição temporal, ou seja, necessitam obedecer a limites de tempo restritos, funcionando em tempo real. Para conseguir este comportamento foi utilizada a Real-Time Application Interface (RTAI), com o componente RTAI-XML. Além das tecnologias utilizadas, neste trabalho também é apresentado o processo de modelagem do LabExp, de acordo com padrões, princípios e recursos da Unified Modeling Language (UML) aplicada a aplicações web. Este processo de modelagem foi de fundamental importância, pois facilitou e orientou o desenvolvimento do laboratório.

Educação a distância online

This work includes an analysis about the distance learning Online. By bibliographic researches were was observed some Distance Learning peculiarities in Brazil, since its implementation until the present days. Was considered aspects of activities the teachers, main problems, advantages, needed resources for implementation the distance learning course and the approach on a virtual learning environment. (TelEduc) The text was written from books, articles and web pages related to Online distance learning in order to provide the reader an overview of this teaching modality increasingly growing in Brazil

Educação a distância online: potencialidades para a formação de professores que ensinam matemática

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ambiente virtual de aprendizagem: estruturação de roteiro para curso online

O presente trabalho visa descrever os passos para desenvolvimento de um curso e sua estrutura em ambiente virtual de aprendizagem Moodle. Para tanto, a pesquisa consistiu na aplicação de conteúdos de enfermagem para oferecimento de curso online em workshop internacional para grupo de estudantes de graduação e licenciatura em enfermagem do Brasil e de Portugal. Durante a pesquisa foram registradas etapas distintas, desde o planejamento do curso passando pela construção e transformação dos conteúdos, até a disponibilização aos estudantes. As atividades interativas e conteúdos foram elaborados pelos professores com participação de equipe técnica. No trabalho são apresentados procedimentos específicos e papéis a serem desempenhados por professores, especialistas, estudantes e técnicos. Os resultados do desenvolvimento e oferecimento do curso online apontaram alguns aspectos a serem aperfeiçoados no processo de trabalho, no formato dos conteúdos e na utilização das ferramentas.

Plattform Musikalische Bildung

Bei der Plattform Musikalische Bildung handelt es sich um ein Projekt der Hochschule für Musik Detmold. Die Plattform vereinigt in sich Ideen zum vernetzten Musiklernen, neu entwickelten Online-Musiklern-Tools sowie den Austausch und die Modifizierung dieser erstellten Kurse durch andere Dozenten und Lehrenden. Die Plattform steht allen Dozenten und Lehrern, Studierenden und Schülern an Hochschulen, aber auch Musikschulen und allgemein bildenden Schulen kostenlos zur Verfügung. Auf die Einblendung von Werbebannern wird verzichtet. Die Inbetriebnahme einer Betaversion ist im Oktober 2014 erfolgt. Weitere Ausbaustufen sind in Planung aber noch nicht gegenfinanziert.