North West Education Technology Show 2006 at Reebok Stadium (Part II)
Written on November 24, 2006 – 5:57 pm | by Sahmeepee
Seminar 2 – Collaboration in an Online Environment
By Kevin Thompson (UltraLab / UltraVersity)
SUMMARY: A brief description of the UltraVersity project and a discussion of new collaborative technologies, focussing mainly on websites with a strong collaborative theme.
PROBLEMS:
Conflict between old and new ways of teaching & learning:
• “Solo” examinations vs. collaborative working
• Taught vs. self-taught
• Passive learning vs. Active learning
• Dissemination vs. Communication
What is required in the modern workplace?
ULTRAVERSITY:
• Degrees delivered entirely online
• Students all in full- or part-time employment
• Students geographically spread and don’t meet in person until graduation
• 140 Graduates this year
FOUR C’s OF SOCIAL TOOLS:
• Communication: email / instant messaging / voice over IP
• Coordination: shared calendaring / contacts
• Collaboration: files / wikis / blogs / writely.com
• Community: social networks / group decisions
COLLABORATIVE / COMMUNITY WEBSITES:
• Encyclopaedia: Wikipedia
• Video: YouTube, Google Video
• Art: Artpad.art.com
• Photographs: Flickr
• Music: Pandora, Blogmusik
• Bookmarks: Furl, Del.icio.us
• Documents: Writely (aka Google Docs&Spreadsheets), Writeboard
• Maps: Frappr
KEY POINTS:
• Learners can contribute to the learning process by communication with both teachers and other learners
• Online communities can work, but require some facilitation
• Wider participation does not mean watered-down teaching
LINKS/FILES/CONTACTS:
http://www.ultraversity.net
http://www.ultralab.net
Kevin Thompson Powerpoint NWETS 06 (Powerpoint from seminar)
ltscotland-sett2006-D1C.mp3 (Audio recording of earlier seminar)
kevin can be emailed at ultralab net
One Response to “North West Education Technology Show 2006 at Reebok Stadium (Part II)”
I have recently started the course and have already had one person I know complete it (and working on the MSc). It is a good course but as with all distance learning, you have to be careful about planning and ensuring that you keep in close contact with your tutor.
Looking at the new technologies that can be used in learning the biggest brick wall you will hit *has* to be changing the attitude of whoever plans the curriculum development. Choosing the right courses and boards for students to study, as well as the number of staff allocated, is key to allowing good quality resources to be created.
This point is likely to be a key part in my action research over the next 12 months.