Cloudworks Virtual Fieldtrip

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Cloudworks: a virtual fieldtripDiscover a new island on world web 2.0

Gráinne Conole, Open University, UKEluminate session16th November 2009

http://cloudworks.ac.ukPrezi presentation:

http://prezi.com/uompojaixcrp/edit/#86

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Teachers/designers want examples, want to share/discuss!

Many repositories of good practice, but little impact

Blogging

Facebook

Twitter Slideshare

Flckr

Youtube

Commenting

Live commentary

Tagging

RSS feeds

Embedding

Following

Harnessing web 2.0 practicesCan we change practices through use of web 2.0 ideas?

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+Open design: Social and collective

+Key concepts

Clouds: core objects in cloudworks

Cloudscape: collections of clouds

Activity streams: dynamic filters of new activity

Follow & be followed: Personal activity stream and peer recognition

+Key concepts: Clouds

Clouds: IdeasDesign or case studiesTools or resourcesQuestions or problems











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+Key concepts: CloudscapesCloudscapes:ConferencesWorkshopsCourse teamStudent cohortResearch themeProject



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+Filtering and serendipity

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

+Key concepts: Activity streams

Clouds


Clouds Cloudscapes


Clouds Cloudscapes Comments


Clouds Cloudscapes Comments Links


Clouds Cloudscapes Comments Links References


Clouds Cloudscapes Comments Links References Extra content

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+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

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+Theoretical perspectives

“Social objects”Social networking makes little sense if we leave out the objects that mediate the ties between peopleEngeström

Design framework for socialityEnabling practiceMimicking realityBuilding identityActualising selfBouman et al.

+Approach

Agile development: initially build in Drupal, now Codeigniter

Series of phases: design decisions, development, evaluation

Empirical evidence Web stats including google analytics Interviews “Cloudfests” and focus groups Workshops and conferences Observation and reflective diaries Critical friends group and design summits

+Cloudworks & the C4P framework

Content - clouds (Content+extra content+links+references+embedded content)

Connections Cloudscapes, follow and be followed, RSS feeds, email alerts

Conversations Discussions around clouds, twitter feeds

Context RSS feeds, email alerts, eventually a cloudworks API

Purpose A space for sharing, discussing & finding learning and teaching ideas To support an evolving, dynamic community for learning debate

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+Principles

Open, drawing on web 2.0 practices

Clouds as core objects – social, cummulative, intelligent

Intentionally both built around “communities”/’clusters of interest”

Cross-boundary, both filtering/personalisable and serendipitous

Dynamic and evolving through use alongside real events as well as virtual ones

Variety of types of activities and uses, but focus always on sharing, finding and discussing educational ideas and designs

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+Emergent patterns of use

Events: conferences and workshops ALT-C conference, 8-11th September 2009 http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/1870

Discussions: Flash debates Is Twitter killing blogging? http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloud/view/2266

Eliciting expertise and open reviews Literature review of educational technologist http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/1872

Aggregating resources En Rumbo Spanish course http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/776

+Some stats….Aspect Everyone Team Non-team

Cloudscapes 117 49 68

Clouds 1386 935 451

Comments 1882 613 1269

Links 1581 1165 416

1360 registered users

Added Sept.

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+Summary

Evidence of new practices occurring on the site

Genuine “buzz” about the site increasingly

Mix of web 2.0 functionality and nice alignment with existing web 2.0 tools

Supporting a range of learning and teaching activities, but remaining true to the core principles and vision

Cloudworks champions on the rise

Come and play in the clouds!!!

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+Flickr images

Block island http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppl_ri_images/3992243321/

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

Future http://www.flickr.com/photos/expressmonorail/3046970004/

Technology

Cloudworks Virtual Fieldtrip