The document discusses pursuing the elusive metaphor of community in e-learning environments. It summarizes research presented at the ED-MEDIA 2009 conference comparing characteristics of community in formal and non-formal online learning environments. Key findings include non-formal environments having higher levels of trust, learning, and participation compared to formal environments. The document argues that informal learning is an important feature of formal environments and that research should focus more on informal learning.
5. Trajectory of
Learning
Environments
• ‘Relation-Making’ systems
• Personal "representation” systems
• Meaning is in the connections
• The locus of control is in the user
• PLN - McGuffin, ARRFF & Mesh
- Stephen Downes
ED-MEDIA 09 Honolulu,
6. Our students
Search for what they want (Google)
Associate with whom they please
(Twitter)
Ignore what they don’t want (TiVo)
Consume what they choose (iTunes)
Become their own media (YouTube)
-David Porter, BC Campus
ED-MEDIA 09 Honolulu,
54. Transactional Distance
• psychological distance is more important than
actual/social distance
• students don't always want to be close to their
instructors
• students don't always want to be close to other
students
ED-MEDIA 09 Honolulu,
63. We as educators
need to
reconsider our
roles in
students’ lives,
to think of
ourselves as
connectors first
and content
experts second.
http://www.edutopia.org/collaboration-age-technolo
will-richardson
-Will Richardson
Darwin
ED-MEDIA 09 Honolulu,
Peacock
67. Final thoughts
• Community is a tired but useful metaphor
• Non-formal and informal learning are powerful
features in formal learning environments
• Research should concentrate on informal
learning
• Community approaches require a fundamental
shift in how we look at learning and learners,
content and control
ED-MEDIA 09 Honolulu,
68. Twitter, Skype, Faceboo
http://vlcresearch.ca
schwier
Good virtual learning
environments and
good f2f learning
environments are
more similar than
different
Research by the Virtual Learning Communities Research Lab is
supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council of Canada
Photocredit:
ED-MEDIA 09 Honolulu, Maureen Flynn-Burhoe