The blog as a tool for shaping a potential connectivist learning context

Inter insti tut ional Extended Curriculum SymposiumGranger Bay CPUT hotel school26 th August 2014

Rita Ndagire Kizito (UWC)

Re-organization of learning

If operationalised properly, can connectivism provide a theoretical lens for creating effective technology -enhanced learning environments?

Connectivism – “the new kid on the block”

knowledge

learner

Behaviourism (external observable behaviour)

Cognitivism (internal cognitive structures

& functions - information processing)

Social constructivism

(learner perspective)

Connectivism

(active knowledge & skills - practice -supportive community

(social dimensions & interactions)

Technology

(context)

Connectivism – “the new kid on the block”

Offers a way of creating and evaluating learning in social networks where knowledge is distributed across networks of connection nodes ( Siemens, 2005; Downes, 2007)

Not enough attention paid to the unique worth of human learners in the learning transaction to address issues such as - presence, learner autonomy, critical digital competencies (Sharples, Taylor & Vavoula, 2007; Kop, 2011).

“Connectivism has not yet established itself as a distinct learning theory , although its epistemology can make a contribution to new paradigms of learning “( Kop & Hill, 2008; Verhagen, 2006) as cited in (Bell, 2011, p.6).

The exploration

Could the blog be used as a tool to shape a potential connectivist learning context?• What was the role of the blog in the learning transactions?• What were the student experiences of learning in the

programme and of blog use?• Could the blog – supported learning activities contribute to

shaping a connectivist learning context?Data was collected through a survey questionnaire as well as student posted responses on the blog site.

The context A mini-professional development program for training 11 science post graduate teaching assistants (TAs) employed to support lecturers in undergraduate science teaching.

.

Academic year

Required courses

Year 1Maths150/Maths 151

Physics 151

Life Sciences 151

Introduction to Science 153

Year 2Maths 152/Stat 151

Stat152/Physics 152

Life Sciences 152

Main stream subject

run hurriedly, on very limited budgets and very tight time schedules

Sponsors of TA salaries : Manufacturing & Engineering Sector Education Authority (merSETA)

The programmeLearning Outcomes:

The TAs were expected to:• Examine the UWC learning context• Design authentic learning activities for a

module• Facilitate learning in the classroom context

(role play)• Mark and Assess student work• Identify a research problem/ opportunity

related to the ECP program

Each TA was required to:

Attend and participate in all programme activities; Read and keep up with tasks and learning

activities provided; Enter their reflections as blog entries on the

constructed training programme website Attend and keep records of all sessions and

workshops given; and Compile a portfolio of evidence for the participation

experience.

 

On top of Work and post graduate studies !!

Blog space used for posting assignments , presenting assignments (& collaboration)?

Analytical Framework – framework for interaction and cognitive engagement in connectivist learning ( Wang, Chen & Anderson, 2014)

learner – interface interaction

learner- teacher interaction learner – learner interactionlearner – content interaction

learner’s new – old concept’s interaction

operation interaction

information interaction

conceptinteraction

Chen (2004) Moore (1993) ; Anderson (2003) Wang, Chen & Anderson (2014); Siemens (2011)

Learning as a conversation/dialogue - Pask (1975); Laurillard (2002)

The role of the blog in the learning transactions

Programme learning outcome Face-to-face environment Teaching & Learning functions the blog supported

The level of success with the blog

1 Examine the UWC learning context

Introducing the UWC teaching context

To post the assignment instructions For assignment submissions and

responses

The participants were able to develop and share around their contexts quite well

2 Design authentic learning activities for a module

Introducing the principles of design

To post the assignment instructions For assignment submissions and

responses

This assignment was not completed well. The task was too demanding. There was no sufficient time for completing the assignments.

3 Facilitate learning in the classroom context (role play)

Introducing the basics of presentation

Presenting 15 minute teaching episodes

Providing oral feedback to participants

To post the assignment instructions To upload and showcase participants’

15 minute presentations

The time was not sufficient for posting individual presentations for comments from each individual.

4 Mark and Assess student work Introducing the principles of assessment

To post the assignment instructions For assignments submissions

Participants did not have sufficient time to complete the assignments

5 Identify a research problem/ opportunity related to the ECP program

We did not get time to complete this assignment

Mapping the interaction developments for one task

There is evidence of the personal learning environment formation

There is no evidence of meaningful sense making – sharing, filtering , aggregating.

There is evidence of some form of orientation expressed as instructions, but very little scaffolding & feed back

There is no evidence of genuine innovation

Briefly describe your teaching context by identifying factors which characterize teaching and learning at UWC. After writing your description, solicit input and comments from one colleague (a TA). Also comment on one other TAs description.

Task1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 4 Task 50

2

4

6

8

10

12

11

10

8

0 0

10

0 0 0 0

3

0 0 0 0

Completed task Feed back Peer comments

Completed tasks, feedback & peer comments on each student task

Student experiences of learning in the programme 54% felt that what they were expected to do was clear. 63% felt that the programme allowed them to learn independently. 99% felt that they were able to gain understanding of some new teaching and learning concepts. 72% of the respondents felt the facilitators were genuinely interested in their teaching. Half the group (55%) was satisfied with the program.

* 72% felt the programme helped them become better TAs yet only 45% agreed that the assignments were related to the TA functions.

66% thought that the workload was too much and only 27% felt that the feedback given was constructive and helpful.

Student experiences of learning in the programme “no feedback from coordinators clearly demonstrates that our efforts in the assignments were for nothing”

“not enough contact time with the facilitators”

“for a science student, who is also a TA overlooking over 250 students that was a lot of material to get through”

The areas of feedback and workload would have to be revisited to improve the quality of the programme.

There was a lack of congruence between the assignments and the TA functions.

Student experiences of blog use

“The blog environment was good but inconsistent, an updated email notification could have been sent to us to support the blog”.

“The blog was very useful as I could gain from what others were doing”

“The blog was an interesting tool”.

“The lack of feedback and support on my blog made me feel that all my efforts and hard work was for nothing”.

communication

collaboration

motivation?

feedback

Shortcomings

Not enough scaffolding & feedback (new roles-amplifying, curating, wayfinding, modelling, presence) (Siemens, 2010)

Peer support not encouraged and enabled enough Not enough done to build a collaborative and a

learning community Too many tasks No unifying underlying theory Assignments not closely linked to practice

Could the blog – supported learning acti viti es contribute to shaping a connecti vist learning context? ( YES, if designed properly – with one complex task encompassing shorter learning acti viti es, a unifying underlying theory, assignments l inked to practi ce, ti me allocated for scaff olding and feedback - cognizant of the l imitati ons of the student learning context.

One complex task

• Examine the UWC learning context

• Design & implement one small learning activity for your module

• Facilitate learning in the classroom context (role play)

• Mark and Assess student work

• Identify a research problem/ opportunity related to the ECP program

ReferencesAnderson, T. (2003). Getting the mix right again: An updated and theoretical rationale for interaction. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 4(2)

Bell, F. (2011). Connectivism: Its place in theory-informed research and innovation in technology-enabled learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 12(3), 98-118.

Chen, L. (2004). A hierarchical model for student and teacher interaction in distance learning. Distance Education in China, (05), 24-28+78.

Downes, S. (2007). What connectivism is. Retrieved from http://halfanhour.blogspot.com/2007/02/what-connectivism-is.html

Kop, R. (2011). The challenges to connectivist learning on open online networks: Learning experiences during a massive open online course. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 12(3), 19-38.

ReferencesKop, R., & Hill, A. (2008). Connectivism: Learning theory of the future or vestige of the past? The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 9(3). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/523/1103.

Laurillard, D. (2002). Rethinking university teaching: A conversational framework for the effective use of learning technologies (2nd ed.). London: Routledge-Falmer

Moore, M. G. (1993). Theory of transactional distance. In Theoretical principles of distance education (pp. 22–38). London: Rutledge

Pask, G. (1975). Conversation, cognition and learning. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Sharples, M., Taylor, J., & Vavoula, G. (2010). A theory of learning for the mobile age. In Medienbildung in neuen Kulturräumen (pp. 87-99). VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

ReferencesSiemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 2(1), 3-10.

Siemens, G. (2011). Orientation: Sensemaking and wayfinding in complex distributed online information environments (Doctoral dissertation). University of Aberdeen.

Verhagen, P. (2006). Connectivism: A new learning theory? Surf e-learning themasite. Retrieved from http://elearning.surf.nl/e-learning/english/3793

Wang, Z., Chen, L., & Anderson, T. (2014). A framework for interaction and cognitive engagement in connectivist learning contexts. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 15(2).