Science 2.0: Supporting a Doctoral Community of Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning using Social SoftwareDenis Gillet and Sandy El Helou • EPFLMarie Joubert and Rosamund Sutherland • University of BristolScience 2.0 Workshop • EC-TEL • September 29, 2009

From PALETTE to STELLARPALETTE IP (2006-2008)Facilitating and augmenting individual and organizational learning in Communities of Practice (CoPs) • http://palette.ercim.orgSTELLAR NoEWP4: Building Next Generation CapacityInstruments: Doctoral Academy Events, Scholarships for mobility, and Doctoral Community of Practice (DoCoP)2

The DoCoPPhD students, PhD advisors and experts in TEL share research practice and learn from each otherReduce isolationEstablish co-coachingEnable sharing of testbeds…3

Lessons Learned from PALETTECoPpractice and interaction modes continuously evolve over time and in context (from simple social interaction to advanced collaborative activities)Integration of CoP members is (and has to be) progressive (from passive guest to active contributor and possibly facilitator) • Privacy !Roles continuously evolve and depend on activities (someone can be an expert in a context and a novice in another) 4

Lessons Learned from PALETTEIntegration of CoP services is (and has to be) progressive and non-invasive (work across members’ personal and professional IT contexts)Online spaces and their personalization strongly contribute to the building of the CoP identity and the sense of belongingOnline spaces and environments (Web 2.0)are boundary objects for the negotiation of usefulness between providers and members (CoP & Service Mediators)5

Lessons Learned from PALETTEUtility, usability, acceptability, and maybe adoptionDo not disappoint members once, you will lose them foreverCoP activity is always a side activity (not so much time to invest, quick adoption necessary)Members have some expectations, they do not know necessarily the tools to support them Elicitation of requirementsDetection of passionate members to support the activity momentum6

Lessons Learned from PALETTEValue all contributions (incentive)Unobtrusive information and awareness deliveryUnobtrusive and contextual notificationsUbiquitous access for mobile clientsResponsiveness in context and fitness for purposeCoPsare informal social networks and informal learning opportunity providersCoPsoperate and grow via a careful combination of face-to-face and mediated interaction7

Results from PALETTE3A Interaction Model8Represents assetmanagement system, task management system or discussion platformAssets correspond to content; roles,tags, events and links define the contextSupports integratedawareness andrecommendation

Results from PALETTEeLogbook.epfl.ch Social Software9

The DoCoPA scenario for a DoCoP memberFirst face-to-face contact during the Joint Summer or Winter School on TEL (peers, PhD directors, experts)Annual contacts at TEL workshops, conferences, meetings, doctoral consortia, …Further contacts and interaction through the Web 2.0 Science Portal, a possible integrated DoCoP Space and the associated Web 2.0 servicesWhat type of interaction ? What type of Services ?… Pilot questionnaire distributed at the EC-Tel DC10

The QuestionnaireHow could a DoCoP benefit you in terms of completing your doctoral studies and in your future professional life? What type of services would you need in the framework of the DoCoP?Please indicate the academic and social platforms you use for professional and research workWhat blogs, Wikis, Twitter channels or RSS Feeds related to TEL do you read? What blogs, Wikis, Twitter channels or RSS Feeds related to TEL do you contribute to?11

The QuestionnairePlease indicate which portal or a mash-up platform you think could help in building the DoCoP identityWhat is your academic discipline (outside TEL)? Do you see your professional identity as primarily within your discipline or primarily within TELAre you studying for your PhD full time or part time and what is the total expected duration of your PhD studyDo you have to take PhD courses in your PhD programme? If yes, how many ECTS credits do you need to get?12

Possible DoCoP Space13

Further ActionsRevised questionnaire sent to all the participants of the previous Doctoral School in TEL Contact with PhD AdvisorsPreliminary aggregation page on the STELLAR Web siteProgressive integration of requested services in a relevant DoCoP Space14

Contactshttp://www.stellarnet.euhttp://palette.ercim.orghttp://people.epfl.ch/Denis.Gillethttp://elogbook.epfl.chhttp://www.jTELSummerSchool.euThe related paper:http://oa.stellarnet.eu/open-archive/browse?resource=2196_v115