Reflective LearningReflective Learning

Lynne GibbLynne Gibb

Coonara Community HouseCoonara Community House

An online community of practiceAn online community of practice

What does Community of practice mean to you? What does Community of practice mean to you?

Wenger’s Description

Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.

http://masters.bilbea.com/extras/Chinese_teacher_PD/Chinese_teacher_PD_final.html

What does this picture say to you?

“The dove is a carrier bird, carrying good news and goodwill”

“The dove is a bird of peace and therefore when we reflect in our COP it is a safe area. When we are speaking in it people can speak openly and freely without fear of judgement and criticism”.

“The bird is flying and I can fly too – I can be carried on the back of everybody in the group!”

The Project

• Could we effectively deliver a unit from the Community Services training package via an online community of practice?

• Along the way, explore the concept of technology stewarding along the lines proposed by Wenger, White & Smith in “Digital habitats: stewarding technology for communities”

The students

• Seven Diploma of children’s services students

• Beginning the course – first unit

• Technology skills audit indicated – 2 advanced ,4 moderate , 1 basic computer skills (home support)

• All had computer access and broadband at home

• All students currently employed in the early childhood/child care industry either P/T or F/T

What did we plan to happen?

What actually happened?

• Students became overwhelmed with the amount of new technology to learn in a short space of time and right at the beginning of the course

What did we do?

Phew!!!Happy me!!

How did we do it?

Reflecting publicly, sharing information/networking,Asynchronous discussion input from industry experts

Reflecting privately

Input from & dialogue with industry experts

Resources for whole course

General Class Wiki

Introductory 2 X 3hr sessions F2F

Individual reflective wikis

CoP Wiki

http://openhouseopenlearning.coonarahouse.org.au

Elluminate Support Sessions

1 x 3hr intro session F2F followed by 5 x 1 hour sessions in Elluminate

What worked well in the learning?

Having another facilitator in some elluminate Having another facilitator in some elluminate sessionssessions

Student access to Industry experts (IE)Student access to Industry experts (IE)

IEs appreciated having direct input into student IEs appreciated having direct input into student learninglearningStudents enjoyed learning in elluminateStudents enjoyed learning in elluminate

Reflecting in personal wikis Reflecting in personal wikis

The Reflective Practice unit suited the C of P modelThe Reflective Practice unit suited the C of P model

Lessons learned

• Give students more time to learn the technology• Less technology – concentrate on the C of P• Run the online unit alone • Possibly too many wikis

Feedback

What are the advantages of learning via a Community of practice?

• Learning from the own comfort of your home. Learning different ways through guest speakers and powerpoints.

• It helped me to improve my skills on the computer beyond my reckoning to start with and then I felt more competent to access the technology more confidently. It also allowed for more freedom of expression especially in the discussion forums.

• I dont have to travel, have more time to get other things done and that you can write what you want say to instead of talking.

• You can interact with a variety of Qualified staff directly and ask them questions about what its like

What are the disadvantages?

You can’t see people’s faces and emotions

Your technology has to work

• Their contributions gave me an idea how this course has helped them.

• They gave further insights into the actual workings in the child-care industry and current practices as well as a 'mentoring' aspect for those of us who felt we had no one to turn to when situations became a bit burdensome.

Were the contributions from industry experts useful?

• Yes because it will help continue my studies and help decide what career direction.

• Because it gave a different perspective• Yes – being able to talk to them gave me a

“real” workplace perspective – what its really like when you are running a room. It was very encouraging

Were the contributions from industry experts useful?

If the Community of Practice remained open for use as a resource (enabling interaction with industry experts) during the rest of the course, would you use it?

•Yes - It is such a privilege to be able to access the expertise of the industry to benefit us on our learning journey and give us an awareness of professional development as well as encouragement to keep pressing on.•Yes if we could still have access to the industry experts I would definitely use it.•Yes – it is a good way of keeping in touch with what is going on in the industry. Hearing how the Early Years Learning Framework is being carried in out in different centres will definitely help us learn planning.

• If the Community of Practice was expanded for use as a resource for other Diploma of children's services students studying in the ACE sector with other training providers with access to more industry experts and networking across the industry, would you use it during the rest of your course?

• Yes - It would be like attending an on-line PD with an opportunity to have an injection of some reality problem solving methods - I guess out in the field it is not as it is set out in theory!

• Other students felt it would be too much additional work during the course but would be interested in using it as a networking opportunity after they graduated

Can you give examples of how a CoP with access to industry experts could be helpful for you as you continue your child care studies and/or in you future work in the field.

• You will be able to get different opinions from people in the field or who has worked their way to bigger things. It will be helpful if there are all sort of questions cthat an be answered with different answers.They can give you ideas about doing things differently.

• A clip on Emilio Reggio in Italy or the latest contribution from overseas in terms of childcare development would be good. We don't have to make the trip and yet learn on line.

• Several students indicated they were still not sure

“This forum affords the interaction between all age groups to share from experiences, dreams and visions and this is very exciting. I surprise myself, because I was always an advocate for the tried and tested methods, but I am fast adapting to the changes that we have to flow with to be part of this fast changing world we live in. Interacting online with real professionals in the field is an amazing way to learn. It was so exciting to be a part of this new way of learning and I am proud that I could do it!”Feedback from the least-computer-literate, oldest (56) student and most reluctant technology-user in the group!

Technology Stewarding?

Tech steward can concentrate on technology and Tech steward can concentrate on technology and support student /trainer technology needssupport student /trainer technology needs

Tech Steward (TS) role Tech Steward (TS) role importantimportant

Assist in online classroom, designing spaces Assist in online classroom, designing spaces etcetc

Facilitator can concentrate on facilitating & supporting Facilitator can concentrate on facilitating & supporting student learningstudent learning

Exciting Possibilities!

• Keep the C of P open with input from industry experts for the rest of the course

• Expand the C of P to include Diploma of Children’s services students in other ACE organisations in the Outer east

• Expand the network to include Dip Children’s Services students in ACE organisations statewide

• Open the C of P to more industry experts from a variety of early childhood industries.

• Do you have any ideas to share on how an online Community of Practice could assist in the learning journeys of your students?

Alternatives to Ning

• http://www.mixxt.com/

• http://www.socialgo.com

• http://grouply.com

• http://wall.fm

I hope you will be inspired to start your own online Communities of Practice !

Lynne GibbChildren’s Services Training Co-ordinatorElearning Co-ordinatorCoonara Community House03 9758 7081lynne@coonarahouse.org.au