Personal Learning EnvironmentsShifting the Locus of Control

Oleg LiberOleg Liber

CETIS, University of BoltonCETIS, University of Bolton

Dec 05Dec 05 22 of 20 of 20

Changing…

TechnologiesTechnologiesStudentsStudentsPedagogiesPedagogiesEnvironmentEnvironmentInstitutionsInstitutionsState education systemState education systemGlobal educationGlobal education

Dec 05Dec 05 33 of 20 of 20

Before VLEs

TechnologyTechnology– Web, ftp, gopher, email, newsgroupsWeb, ftp, gopher, email, newsgroups– Little interoperationLittle interoperation– No learner managementNo learner management– Enthusiast drivenEnthusiast driven

StudentsStudents– Mainly young, homogenousMainly young, homogenous– Mainly on campusMainly on campus

PedagogyPedagogy– Formal, face to face deliveryFormal, face to face delivery

Dec 05Dec 05 44 of 20 of 20

Age of the VLE

TechnologyTechnology– Content deliveryContent delivery– Discussion groupsDiscussion groups– MCQMCQ– Limited learning managementLimited learning management– Invented by enthusiastsInvented by enthusiasts

StudentsStudents– More part-timeMore part-time– AccessAccess– Widening participationWidening participation

PedagogyPedagogy– More distance learningMore distance learning– Greater support requirementsGreater support requirements

Dec 05Dec 05 55 of 20 of 20

VLE approaches

Technical approachesTechnical approaches– Website plus database (BB, WebCT …)Website plus database (BB, WebCT …)– Rich client (Colloquia)Rich client (Colloquia)

Organisational issuesOrganisational issues– University as ISPUniversity as ISP– ““Big System” management modelBig System” management model– Constrain diversityConstrain diversity

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Why VLEs have succeeded

Not disruptive innovationNot disruptive innovation

Easily adopted to support existing Easily adopted to support existing classroom/course paradigmclassroom/course paradigm

Widely incorporatedWidely incorporated

Which benefits proven?Which benefits proven?– PedagogicPedagogic– CostCost– AccessAccess

Dec 05Dec 05 77 of 20 of 20

Post VLE

New developments since 1996New developments since 1996– Mobile phones, SMS, camera phoneMobile phones, SMS, camera phone

– Digital photography, FlickrDigital photography, Flickr

– Blogs, RSSBlogs, RSS

– MP3 players, media players, PDAsMP3 players, media players, PDAs

– iTunes, podcastingiTunes, podcasting

– Pen drives, smart drives, SD cards…Pen drives, smart drives, SD cards…

– Instant messagingInstant messaging

– Internet gamingInternet gaming

– Bandwidth!Bandwidth!

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Institutional concerns

Traditionally institutions provide technologyTraditionally institutions provide technology– Classrooms, labs, library etc.Classrooms, labs, library etc.

Since 1990s institutions are ISPsSince 1990s institutions are ISPs– Email address, file store, homepages, recordsEmail address, file store, homepages, records– Assume students have no technologyAssume students have no technology– Also eportfolio hosting, VLE/LMS, content, servicesAlso eportfolio hosting, VLE/LMS, content, services

Now constraining technological use by studentsNow constraining technological use by students– IM, P2P, Blogs, MP3, mobile phones, PDAIM, P2P, Blogs, MP3, mobile phones, PDA

Staff and student skills trainingStaff and student skills training– Huge varietyHuge variety

But modern students need to use multiple systemsBut modern students need to use multiple systems

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TechnologyMoodle

Eportfolio systemCourse catalogue

ContentAuthentication and authorisation

TechnologyWebCT

Eportfolio systemCourse catalogue

ContentAuthentication and authorisation

TechnologyFronter

Eportfolio systemCourse catalogue

ContentAuthentication and authorisation

College A

KnowledgeTeaching

University B

KnowledgeTeaching

University C

KnowledgeTeaching

Dec 05Dec 05 1010 of 20 of 20

Issues for eLearning

Technological: Technological: – adaptable to changing technologiesadaptable to changing technologies– InteroperabilityInteroperability– SOASOA

InstitutionalInstitutional– Changing nature of service provisionChanging nature of service provision

PedagogicPedagogic– Ownership and creative use of technical system by Ownership and creative use of technical system by

teachers and studentsteachers and students– Shifting locus of controlShifting locus of control

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TechnologyPLE

EportfolioContent

RelationshipManagement

Tools

College A

KnowledgeTeaching

Resources

University B

KnowledgeTeaching

Resources

University C

KnowledgeTeaching

Resources

Service

Service

Service ServiceService

Service

Dec 05Dec 05 1212 of 20 of 20

Post VLE – Personal Learning Environments

StudentsStudents– Mobile, learn anywhereMobile, learn anywhere– Technologically aware, capableTechnologically aware, capable– Multiple courses, formal/informalMultiple courses, formal/informal

TechnologyTechnology– PersonalPersonal– Interoperable, standards basedInteroperable, standards based– Extensible, service-orientedExtensible, service-oriented

InstitutionsInstitutions– Service basedService based– Technology requirementsTechnology requirements– Flexible coursesFlexible courses– Learner centredLearner centred

Dec 05Dec 05 1313 of 20 of 20

Before…

Course built at institutionCourse built at institution

Consumed by learnerConsumed by learner

Learners are managedLearners are managedVLEs provide no management tools for learnersVLEs provide no management tools for learners

Learners “fit” into courseLearners “fit” into courseCan only choose elective modulesCan only choose elective modules

Learners belong to institutionLearners belong to institutionOne institution at a time is typicalOne institution at a time is typical

Do customers shop only at one shop?Do customers shop only at one shop?

Dec 05Dec 05 1414 of 20 of 20

…After

Course aggregated by learnerCourse aggregated by learner– From several sourcesFrom several sources– Content, peers, support, teachingContent, peers, support, teaching

Elements provided by institutionElements provided by institution– Content, peers, support, teaching, certificationContent, peers, support, teaching, certification

Learners aggregate/manage elementsLearners aggregate/manage elements

Courses are customised to learnerCourses are customised to learner

Learners are free agentsLearners are free agents– “… “… shop at several shops…”shop at several shops…”

Dec 05Dec 05 1515 of 20 of 20

PLE implications

Student have own email address, PLE, e-portfolioStudent have own email address, PLE, e-portfolioCommercial ISP provides core servicesCommercial ISP provides core servicesAlso web-services (instrumentation), resourcesAlso web-services (instrumentation), resourcesState providesState provides

Services, resources, learning space, informationServices, resources, learning space, information

University providesUniversity providesStudent supportStudent supportSpecialised web servicesSpecialised web servicesContent, teachingContent, teaching

Dec 05Dec 05 1616 of 20 of 20

JISC funded Reference Model project

DfESDfES– “A collaborative approach to personalised learning activities”

(DfES e- Strategy summary p.3)– http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/e-strategy/docs/e-strategysummary.pdfhttp://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/e-strategy/docs/e-strategysummary.pdf

Philosophy of eLearning and PLEsPhilosophy of eLearning and PLEsWhy technology? What “caused” VLEs? What “caused” eLearning?Why technology? What “caused” VLEs? What “caused” eLearning?

Use cases – scenarios for use of PLEUse cases – scenarios for use of PLEWhat will the future be like?What will the future be like?

Reference model – defining the scope of PLEsReference model – defining the scope of PLEsPrototypesPrototypes

Examples of possible PLEsExamples of possible PLEs

Dec 05Dec 05 1717 of 20 of 20

AOLInstantMessenger AOLInstantMessenger iChat iChat MSNMessenger MSNMessenger Colloquia Colloquia Groove Groove ELGG ELGG Outlook Outlook Chandler Chandler AppleMail AppleMail Eudora Eudora Thunderbird Thunderbird iCal iCal Sunbird Sunbird Shrook Shrook NetNewsWire NetNewsWire Blogger Blogger Drupal Drupal

Wordpress Wordpress XJournal XJournal Google Google Amazon Amazon 43Things 43Things Flickr Flickr Furl Furl Technorati Technorati del.icio.us del.icio.us http://www.writeboard.com/ http://www.writeboard.com/ SynchroEdit SynchroEdit Flock Flock WiredReach WiredReach NetVibes NetVibes eyeOS eyeOS Writely Writely SuprGlu SuprGlu BaseCamp BaseCamp

TaDaListTaDaList

Dec 05Dec 05 1818 of 20 of 20

Prototypes

Desktop application: Desktop application: – Resources: create, get, post and organiseResources: create, get, post and organise

Bookmarks, feeds, other sourcesBookmarks, feeds, other sources

– People: find, meet, collaborate, communicate, People: find, meet, collaborate, communicate, organiseorganise

– Activities: receive, design, create, participateActivities: receive, design, create, participate– Instrumentation: pluggable web-servicesInstrumentation: pluggable web-services

Portal application: Portal application: – Mimics desktop prototypeMimics desktop prototype

Dec 05Dec 05 1919 of 20 of 20

Importance of standards

Resources: RSS, Atom, Content packages, Resources: RSS, Atom, Content packages, SCORM….SCORM….

People: FOAF, LIP, ePortfolio…People: FOAF, LIP, ePortfolio…

Activities: Learning Design…Activities: Learning Design…

Instrumentation: XMPP, WSDL, SOAP… Instrumentation: XMPP, WSDL, SOAP…

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Dec 05Dec 05 2121 of 20 of 20

Thanks for listening!

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