1. OVERVIEW | 02.18.09
Zonebee & Pedagogy at the Science Center
Karen C. Spear Ellinwood
Research & Content Manager for Zonebee
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2. WHAT IS ZONEBEE?
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3. Initially being implemented for the 2
Web, Zonebee_
 Toolbar integrates Rich Internet
Applications and various Web Widgets
with existing powerful web-based
resources, such as Google,
StumbleUpon, Delicious, or Wikipedia
 Goes beyond locating resources that
match previous searches and guides
you in determining how to approach the
learning process
 Focuses on the entire process of
informal learning
 Empowers learners to use resources
more effectively
 Adds value through NEW and unique
applications specially designed by
ZoneBee
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4. What is Zonebee_ 3
ZoneBee is a virtual Informal Learning Environment being designed to …
Support learning in …
 complex, informal learning environments, such as the Web, structured informal learning
environments, such as Science Centers, and
 formal environments such as work and school
Promote metacognitive awareness of how you learn as you learn
 Recommend resources tailored to learners’
 subject matter interests
 challenge level
 practices, strategies, and approaches to learning
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5. 21st Century learning
Creating Zones of Possibilities_
21ST CENTURY SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING_
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6. 5
The exponential growth of knowledge_
Exponential growth of
1999-2002
2020 – Doubles every knowledge makes
New stored information 73 days! focus on information
doubles! unrealistic
• Half-life of tech-based
knowledge = 5 years
 Keeping up with knowledge production in any
discipline is the prime challenge of 21st Century
Learning
 Search engines like Google, Yahoo, or
Ask.com alone will not meet this challenge
 As much as we like these services, they do
NOT truly personalize the search, foster
reflective analysis, or adequately distribute
knowledge for learning how to learn.
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7. 6
Web as gateway to holistic experience_
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8. An overview of pedagogy_ 7
Guiding Premises
 Developmental neuroplasticity enables the
nervous system to reorganize neural pathways
adapting to changing and new circumstances
throughout our lives.
 Learners have varied background knowledge
VIRTUAL
of science and everyday knowledge (unrelated to REALITY
science)
Self-directed informal learning is self-managed
and, at best, should be self-reflective
 It should also be self-reflective – promote
metacognitive engagement
Science Centers and other forms of informal
learning offer a form of structured, informal
learning, that is, voluntary self-regulated learning
requiring active participants.
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9. 8
The learning situation_
Direct
 The learning situation
determines learning opportunities,
what Moll & Greenberg (1990) call
“zones of possibilities”
 21st Century learning
increasingly complex (multi-
environment) Social Interaction.
PEER
Social
LEARNING & In real time
Not in real time
Interaction
TEACHING
Indirect
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10. In order to become a zone of possibilities, 9
the learning situation must_
Organize sets of experiences that
motivate visitors to engage
metacognitively with a variety of
scientific topics and with one
another.
 Promote greater awareness of
themselves as learners, that is,
about their practices and ideas
about learning
 Honor visitors’ funds of
knowledge
 Do not emphasize memorization
of content
 Guide learners to become better
self-directed learners
 Focus on active involvement of
learners
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11. Zones of Goals of
Possibilities_
Strategic guidance for
learners to achieve goals
CREATE Zones of Proximal Fun and imaginative learning
within their reach and nudge
activities
Development (Zones of multiple them beyond present
possibilities) abilities
 MOTIVATE voluntary
participation
 OFFER toolkit and resources for
Cumulative experiences that
application in familiar and build on what is learned Constructive tools or
unfamiliar contexts through activity at each resources for creative and
exhibit and through Zonebee imaginative learning
BUILD ON learners’ funds of
online
knowledge
Content
Opportunities for building
(practices)
Process
and sharing knowledge of …
Re-purposing content and
Self
• Science
tools learners encounter in • Learning approaches and enhancing
CONNECT experiences in and everyday experience (home, inquiry practices
out of the science center and school, community. • Self-reflective and collaborative
thinking
among exhibit activities
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12. Self-Directed Learning_
 Involves several processes reflecting Assess
progressions of content acquisition and self-
development (ourselves as learners)
 Is self-regulatory or self-managed learning
Requires Effective tools
Evaluate Plan
 Requires Affective Involvement (involving
senses and emotion, affecting motivation)
 Requires a variety of tools (examples)
of the Mind 
Tools
Monitor Implement
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13. 12
Tools of the Mind_
Psychological Tools –

Thinking & Metacognition

(Thinking about Thinking)
Higher Order Psychological Tools

for doing things
Practices
Learning

Painting

Carving

Doing science

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14. Funds of Knowledge_ 13
Content Knowledge
Content Knowledge - We know stuff

Process Knowledge or Practices – We

know how to do things
Funds of
Social Relations – We learn how to do

Knowledge
Socio- Process
things from others Cultural Knowledge
Context (Practices)
Socio-Cultural Context – We do

different things in different ways depending
upon who we are with and where we are
In other words – we learn how to do

things while we’re doing them (in the Social Relations
context of activities or experience) with
and/or through the strategic assistance or
guidance of others
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15. FEATURES
Features_
ADDED VALUE_
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16. Unique
applications Login/Logout_
User-controlled; Zonebee remembers last login status
Layered on top web-based
applications, Zonebee has
created UNIQUE
applications
• Learning Goal
Taxonomy
• Record Trails
• Review Trails
• Zonebee This Topic Keyword_
• Explore (Pre-search) Enter keywords for Explore & Settings_
Search; Default function on “Enter” is User chooses basic or Pro
• Qualified Search Explore Zonebee features &
preferences
Assess
Experience_
Books, Museums, Products
Evaluate Plan
Build_
Produce, Collaborate, Distribute
Monitor Implement
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17. Learning Goal_
Zonebee Contextualized, Goal-oriented
Record_
Goals exploration and searching
User controls when to record
trails
Research Platform –
Zonebee collects users’
trails, with their
permission. Zonebee
researchers and
developers can view these
trails and discern how the
trails align with SDL
Focus_
processes and from there Reflect_ Review Trails, clippings,
estimate how users Review Trails, Clippings, bookmarks
engage in learning along bookmarks
several dimensions… Search_
 Domain or content Qualified sites, Publications, Social networks
expertise Explore_
 Metacognitive awareness Buzz, Word, Encyclopedia, Images
(of learning practices)
 ICT Literacy (Internet & Assess
Computer Technologies)
 Demographics
 Self-reported learning Evaluate Plan
dispositions – attitudes
toward learning and
preferences in learning
practices
Monitor Implement
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18. 17
A peak at a few Zonebee Features_ Assess
Plan
Explore_
Before you search, get the…
Buzz on the net, define words and phrases,
encyclopedic references on related topics,
concepts, and images. Especially useful when
you are in unfamiliar territory.
Buzz_
Gives you a sense of what the Internet “is saying”
on the topic to help you identify related topics and
»»»
plan your search
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19. 18
Special Features_
Zonebee This
The Juice looks like the Buzz,
but it’s based upon Zonebee’s
unique algorithm that enables you
to see what’s on the page and
whether it fits what you’re looking
for before you spend time scrolling
up and down the page or clicking
through the site
 Instructional Clarity Index
based upon six criteria derived
from research with librarians
1.Accessibility
2.Form use on site
3.Readability
4.Maintainability
5.Navigation
6.Performance
Monitor Implement
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20. Review Trails_
Assess
Evaluate
Zonebee will enable visitors to review their learning experiences online and in
the Science Center_
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21. 20
Learn curious_
SUMMARY
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22. Zonebee is_
 a research platform for
Participatory Design
 a set of web-based
applications for learning, like
Google docs &
spreadsheets, FURL third- Assess
party bookmarking service,
and Ning social networking
space
 an organizing circumstance Evaluate Plan
of informal, self-directed
learning to promote
metacognitive awareness of
how one learns
 a set of unique Zonebee
applications Monitor Implement
 aligned with five essential
processes of self-directed
learning 
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23. Theoretical Compatibility
The Zonebee learning Model is based on a
learning model compatible with the framework of
…
•Cooperative Extension
• Wildcat School
• Medial and nursing training emphasizing metacognition
• STEM learning
• COE Teacher preparation programs
• CEMELA activities
• 5D (Fifth Dimension) clubs
• Informal learning programs
And the goals of…
• enhancing ICT literacy programs
• promoting metacognitive awareness about content
learning and learning practices & strategies
• social relations and collaborative learning
•Design research principles
• Learner-centered designs for research and learning
activities
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24. RESEARCH
Research based_
ACADEMIC RESEARCH &
DEVELOPMENT
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25. 24
Zonebee Research Agenda_
Phases of Zonebee Research
& Timeline
 Phase I – 2008
Settings included class observations
in Dr. Gordon’s problem-solving class
 Phase II – Qtr 1-3 2009
Zonebee will spin-off into a
commercial enterprise estimated for
second quarter
Academic research will continue
through commercial enterprise
collaborations with UA and other
academic institutions
 Phase III – Qtr 3 2009
Exhibit Prototyping
Integration with Zonebee
User-generated content
Exhibit development support
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26. Director of Technology
Flandrau |The UA Science Center
Contact_ 25
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27. RESEARCH
THANK YOU_
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28. Notes or Questions_ 27
Notes
Questions
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