An overview of Cloudworks: vision, activities and potential

Gráinne Conole, Open University, UKIET Coffee Morning, 21st April 2010

A changing OU

Open University UK:

From broadcast TV to multi-channel

Towards student-centered learning

Teacher Student

Teaching Learning

Content Activities

Locating educational approaches

Teacher-centred

Student-centred

Activity-based

Content-based

Formal, ‘traditional’ courses

Problem-based learning

Learner-definedlearning

Informal web-based learning

Need new approaches to design

Converging practicesModern technologies Modern pedagogy Search engines, digital libraries RSS feeds, mash ups, email

alerts 3D virtual worlds Gaming environments User-generated content, OERs Blogs, wikis, micro-blogging,

eportfolios Collectively…

Web 2.0 tools Location aware devices Cloud computing

Inquiry learning Personalised learning Experiential learning Peer learning Resource-based learning Reflection, peer critiquing Changing pedagogies

From individual to social Contextualised/situated

learning Distributed cognition

The gap between promise & reality Common reactions:

“I haven’t got time” “My research is more important” “What’s in it for me?” “Where is my reward?” “I don’t have the skills to do this” “I don’t believe in this, it won’t work”

Common resistance strategies: I’ll say yes (and do nothing) Undermine the initiative Undermine the person involved Do it badly

Classic mistakes: Emphasis on the technologies, not the people and processes Funding for technology developments but not use and support

Free resources Little reuse

Array of technologies

Not fully exploited

LD

Adopting a learning design approach

Resources

Activities

Conceptualtools

Visualisationtools

Collaborationtools

What, why, how, where, when…

What is it? Why was it developed? How does it work? Where had it been used so far? When might you use it?

Cloudworks: sharing teaching practice

A space for sharing and discussing learning and teaching ideas and designs

Application of the best of web 2.0 practice to a teaching context

Iterative development and evaluation – based on use

Part of OU Learning Design Initiative Juliette Culver – lead

developer Rebecca Galley – facilitation Nick Frear -

internationalisation

Why was it developed? Aim

To bridge the gap between technologies and use

Issues Lack of uptake of technologies

in education Teachers say they want

examples/want to share/discuss

New skills needed for engaging with new technologies

Theoretical basis ‘Social objects’ Framework for sociality

Key concepts

Clouds: core objects in Cloudworks

Cloudscapes: collections of clouds

Activity streams: dynamic filters of new activity

Follow and be followed: Personal activity stream

and peer recognition

Homepage

Active clouds Feature cloudscapes Orientation

Search Browse Login User panel

Cloudstream

Clouds

Clouds: IdeasDesign or case studiesTools or resourcesQuestions or problems

Clouds types Current topics Questions Flash debates Presentations Resources

Cloudscapes

Learning about Cloudscape: Presentations 24 Clouds Twitter stream Recent activities

Space to Discuss Add Follow Collate Archive

Cloudstream

Show all Latest

Clouds Cloudscapes Discussion Links References Extra content

Follow & be followed Similar to following in

twitter Can follow cloudscapes &

people Indicates things & people

you are interested Anything you follow

appears in your personal cloudstream

Events and deadlines

Favourites and reputation

User profile

Digital trails and pathways

Filtering – personalisation and tailoring RSS feeds for people and cloudscapes Different levels of email alert Activity streams

Public activity stream (all activities on the site), Cloudscape activity streams, User activity streams

Tabbed views – all, clouds, cloudscapes, comments links, references, extra content

Serendipity Active clouds on home page Featured cloudscapes on home page Browse clouds, cloudscape, tags, people Search for keywords

Individuals, collectives, communities

Views from 158 countries Users:

Teachers (from K-12, tertiary, independent) Researchers Educational technologists/support staff Policy makers Researchers Learners

Characteristics Boundary crossing Multi-purpose, different motivations Lurking through active participation

Uses and benefits Events: conferences and workshops

ETUG workshop, 20th-21st October 2009 http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/1903

Discussions: flash debates The changing nature of conferences http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloud/view/2577

Eliciting expertise and open reviews Literature review of Web 2.0 use in Higher Education http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/1895

Aggregating resources Horizon reports

http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloudscape/view/1957

Learner and tutor spaces H800 students, SocialLearn activities, Bus ALs, Design course team

Use at the OU

Sharing of practice Showcase of innovation Keeping up to date ‘Active record’ of events Space for discussion Collective intelligence ‘Flash debates’ ‘Open reviews’ Cross-community for

researchers Learning in an Open

World conference

LD Toolbox

A ‘pick and mix’ of learning design tools and resources

Supporting advice and guidance

Graded activities (introductory, intermediate, advanced)

Trialled across a range of teaching and learning environments

http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloudscape/view/1882

Some stats….Aspect Everyone Team Non-team

Cloudscapes 274 98 176

Clouds 2171 1173 998

Comments 3221 985 2236

Links 3036 1616 9420

2219 registered users

Added Sept.

From 160 countries

Recent activities

Questions for discussion

What strikes you as distinctive about Cloudworks?

What are its drawbacks? How might Cloudworks be used across the OU? How should it be promoted? What are the support implications? Should it remain open? What are the implications of going open

source? What formal commitment should the university

make to Cloudworks?

Flickr images

Masai http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcsamsom/2316324361/