© =mcminstitute Virtual Learning Communities NLII Meeting in San Diego, 29th of January, 2002 Dr. Sabine Seufert

© =mcminstitute

Virtual Learning Communities

NLII Meeting in San Diego,29th of January, 2002

Dr. Sabine Seufert

NLII MeetingLearning

CommunitiesPage 2

© =mcminstituteDr. Sabine Seufert

AGENDA: Virtual Learning Communities

• Introduction

• Methodical Issues

• Technological Issues

• Reference Model


CommunitiesPage 3


CommunitiesCommunities are alliances of members: - (emotional) relationship with matching morality and aims - interaction between them on the basis of an implemented organisation (roles, protocols) in a common semantic space (common value system, common language)

Dyson 1997


A Learning CommunityLearning Community is a community inwhich people are joined together bymutual interest to intensively examinea particular theme, and are able to learntogether, exchange existing knowledgeand work on aspects of problem solvingtogether. Paloff/Pralatt 2000


CommunitiesPage 4


Virtual Communities have four Dimensions

Clearly defined group:• Clear limitation of the community• Reference to real communities• Entry rules• Primary authorization necessary• Rules of treatment• Punishment measures for misconduct

Common place:• Archive• Analysis of the participants• Possibility to work as voluntary moderator• Rituals in handling• Role of the community members

Interaction:• Chats/forums• Possibility for own postings• Possibility to build own sub-communities• Active organization of the community• Community events• Regard to recent events

Bonding:• Privacy protection• Matching contributions• Individualizing• User Friendliness• Moderator possible to identify and to contact• Identification of members


CommunitiesPage 5


AGENDA: Virtual Learning Communities

• Introduction



• Reference Model


CommunitiesPage 6


Learning ParadigmLearning ParadigmOnline CommunityOnline Community

Community Members/Agentsand their roles

Community Rules, Guidelines

Community Platform:Communication and interactionchannels

Virtual Learning CommunitiesVirtual Learning Communities

No artificial gap betweenlearning and working

Process-oriented and collaborative Learning

Concept of Meta-Cognition:Reflection and self-guidance ofone‘s own learning progress,

Context of Learning:interdisciplinary, exchange of experiences and knowledge among the community members

Seufert, S.; Lechner, U.; Stanoevska, K. (2000) A Reference Model for Learning Communities.



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General Goals of Virtual Learning Communities

• to achieve a deeper understanding oflearning content, to exchange experience,

• to support the socialization process amongthe members of the group through community activities,

• to promote the development of formal and informal learning groups, to provide opportunities for informal discourse,

• to achieve higher student motivation, tominimize the dropout rate


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Examples of Virtual Learning Communities

Virtual LearningCommunities

AlumniCommunities

ongoingrelationshipwith alumni

FreshmanCommunities

Freshmanacculturationand support

Informal Learning

Blended LearningPrograms

Integration intocurriculum, servicesand support,distributedlearning teams support

Distance LearningPrograms

Bonding, Relationship ofcommunity members,student support,mean againstdropout rate

Formal Learning

Peer to Peer

Self-organizedcommunities by students, clubs,shared interest

Moti

vati

on

Curricular, decontextuali

zed Communities

Situated, contextualize

d Communities


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AGENDA: Learning Communities

• Introduction



• Reference Model


CommunitiesPage 10


Community Platforms

Virtual LearningCommunities

Informal LearningFormal

LearningCurricular,

decontextualized

Communities

Non-Curricular,

contextualized

Communities

E-Learning Spaces Website Community Tools

Discussion Groups WebCT Top Class Learning Space Centra ...

Ars Digita InterCommunity eGroups Webfair ...


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Mailing lists, chat, discussion forums, buddy lists Audio and video conferences, E-Polls for the collection of opinion polls, Web blackboards, Visualization of sub-groups, Community chronicle, Expert index: who’s who, yellow pages, Document management, exchange of documents, etc. Photo album, member guestbook, Audio and video conferences, chat and discussion forums, buddy lists Team workspaces, group calendar, work-flow based task administration Feedback mechanism: rating functionalities, scoring models for the grading of

content, discussion contributions, combined with incentive mechanisms (e.g.. Top lists, point allocation),

....

Examples of Community Services


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The Converging Market

Communitiesof Practice

Knowledge worker‘sdesktop Project

Spaces

Ongoing integration of knowledge and work

SocialStructures

Work

Conversation

Fleeting interactions

Instructions

KnowledgeExchange

Documents Knowledge Bases

Access toExpertise

E-LearningSpaces Synchronous

Interactions

DiscussionGroups

WebsiteCommunities

•NetMeeting•SameTime

•Centra

•Interwise

•LearningSpace

•Blackboard•WebCT

•TopClass•PlaceWare •Caucus

•Cassiopeia•WebFair

•eGroup

•ArsDigita

•InterCommunity

•iTeamroom

•QuickPlace

•eRoom

•Livelink

•K-Station•Autonomy

•Verity

•Documentum

•Sharenet

•AskMe

•Organik•Communispace

Instructions

E. Wenger: Supporting of Communities,a survey of community-oriented technologies, 2001.

•Tapped In


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AGENDA: Learning Communities

• Introduction



• Reference Model


CommunitiesPage 14


Kim, A. J., Community Building on the Web, Peachpit 2000.

Over Time

Infl

uen

ce &

Co

ntr

ibu

tio

ns

Facilitator, Staff

Member

s,

Studen

ts

Growth ofthe Community

the „Secret Garden“

Community Building on the Web


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Communities are alliances of members: - (emotional) relationship with matching morality and aims - interaction between them on the basis of an implemented organisation (roles, protocols) in a common semantic space (common value system, common language)

Dyson 1997

Design of Virtual Learning Communities


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ImplementationView

Interaction Design: Communication and Collaboration Processes,

Learning Scenarios

ServiceView

Channel Design: Information Services, Discovery Services,

Communication Services, Collaboration Services

CommunityView

Organizational Design: Community Interest, Actors, Roles,

Protocols/Guidelines, Language

InfrastructureView

Technological Design: ICT and Learning Technologies

Platform Architecture, Software Components

Reference Modelfor Online Learning Communities


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ImplementationView

Interaction Design: Communication and Collaboration Processes,

Learning Scenarios

ServiceView

Channel Design: Information Services, Discovery Services,

Communication Services, Collaboration Services

CommunityView

Organizational Design: Community Interest, Actors, Roles,

Protocols/Guidelines, Language

InfrastructureView

Technological Design: ICT and Learning Technologies

Platform Architecture, Software Components

Reference Modelfor Online Learning CommunitiesLearning Communities:

e.g. MBA CommunityCommunity Interest: A degree, certificate, expertise,Roles, e.g. Faculty member, student, team member, alumni, mentor, coach, ..Community Mission and Statements,values-based protocols, shared moral system, e.g. Code of Ethics

Application Process, Information Processes, Activitiy/Event Planning, Processes for Learning Scenarios: eg. Thesis Processes, Collaboration Processes for Mentoring, Student Projects (MediaVenture), Self-Studying Processes,...

ICT and Learning Technologies, Database Architecture:Campus and Classroom Components, (e.g. Lotus Notes Databases combined with Oracle Components (for empowered searching))

Web Interface Design, NetGuide, Member/Expert Directories, Library (Research and Teaching/Case Repository), Glossary, Discussion Forum „Open Space“, Team Spaces, ...


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Thank you very much for your Attention!Resources• Kim, A. J. (2000): Community Building Secret for Successful

Online Communities, Berkeley: Peachpit.• Paloff, R. M.; Pratt, K. (1999): Building Learning Communities

in Cyberspace. Cambridge: Jossey Bass• Preece, J. (2000): Online Communities. Designing Usabilitz,

Supporting Sociabilitz, New York: John Wiley.• Scardamalia, M.; Bereiter, C. (1996): Computer Support for

Knowledge Building Communities, in: Koschmann, T. (Ed.) CSCL: Theory and Practice of an Emerging Paradigm, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.

• Seufert, S. (2000): The NetAcademy as a Medium for Learning Communities: Educational Technology & Society, 3 (2000) 3, Special Issue “Online Collaborative Learning Environments”.

• Wenger, E. (1999): Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, and Identity, Cambridge: Cambridge University.