This document describes Jutta Pauschenwein's experiences moderating two miniMOOCs based on connectivism principles. In the first experiment (miniMOOC12), participants provided positive feedback on the learning materials and moderator support, but the moderator found it difficult to get to know and monitor all learners in the open online environment. The second experiment (miniMOOC13) added a closed Facebook group for initial socialization as well as Google Hangouts. Participants again appreciated moderator support and feedback was generally positive, though the Facebook community did not fully transfer to the open phase. Looking ahead, Pauschenwein plans to apply lessons learned from these experiences to a larger MOOC on global collaboration competencies scheduled

1. Experiments with connectivism from a
moderator’s point of view
EMOOCs 2014
Jutta Pauschenwein, Erika Pernold, Eva Goldgruber
ZML – Innovative Lernszenarien
FH JOANNEUM, Graz, Austria
Jutta Pauschenwein: Experiments with connectivism from a moderator’s point of view
February 2014
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2. About JP
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 Head of ZML – Innovative Learning Scenarios, FH JOANNEUM,
University of Applied Sciences, Graz, Austria
Research: social constructivism, communities of practice, e-moderation,
gender in e-learning, connectivism, MOOCs, emergent learning,
footprints of emergence, open learning processes
Daily work: e-learning at FH JOANNEUM, projects, online training
courses
I’m good at designing online learning scenarios and moderating small
groups
Online: twitter/jupidu – http://zmldidaktik.wordpress.com
My institute: http://zml.fh-joanneum.at/?lan=en
Jutta Pauschenwein: Experiments with connectivism from a moderator’s point of view
February 2014
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3. Online trainings
 Since 2006 certified e-convenor according to Gilly Salmon
 Gilly‘s 5 stage model: access and motivation, online
socialisation, information exchange, knowledge construction,
development
 Delivery and moderation of many online courses – different
topics around e-learning pedagogy in closed learning
environments with max. 15 learners
 January 2014: 14th e-moderating course
 Sep. 2011 – May 2012: Change11 MOOC, most exciting
learning experience ever
 Being in the role of a learner, making reflection processes visible for
others
 Many new ideas, new network
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4. First experiment (miniMOOC12)
 Open course based on connectivism
 Project “web-literacy Lab” (WLL) to support companies in their
use of the web
 Objective of the course: to build the WLL network
 Tools: a Wordpress blog for the content and a Google+ circle
for discussion / exchange
 Facilitator prepares content, e-moderator (convener) supports
learners (prepare virtual room, moderating, summarizing, …)
 4 pre-defined „e-tivities“ per week
 online tasks according to Gilly Salmon
 3 weeks, Feb./Mar. 2012, about 60 participants
Jutta Pauschenwein: Experiments with connectivism from a moderator’s point of view
February 2014
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5. Evaluation (miniMOOC12)
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About 50% were satisfied with the training and the achievement of their
learning goals.
More than 70% found the learning materials useful.
They appreciated the work of the moderator (82%) and the inputs of the
facilitator (94%)
The moderator didn’t get to know the learners, didn’t identify all of them,
couldn’t monitor them – was not satisfied.
Jutta Pauschenwein: Experiments with connectivism from a moderator’s point of view
February 2014
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6. Challenge
Jutta Pauschenwein: Experiments with connectivism from a moderator’s point of view
February 2014
My booth in Wenger‘s Betreat, Aug. 12
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7. Second experiment (miniMOOC13)
 Hybrid course based on connectivism (web-literacy Lab)
 Objective: to investigate the concept of content strategy
 Similar tools as last time: a WP blog (content), a Google+
community (easier to handle than circles)
 New tools: hangouts on air (youtube videos) AND a closed
facebook group for online socialisation before the open phase
 Facilitator prepares content, attends hangouts
 E-moderator (convener) supports learners (prepares virtual
room, moderates the hangouts, summarizes, writes protocols)
 4 pre-defined „e-tivities“ per week
 4,5 weeks, Jan./Feb. 2013, about 50 participants
Jutta Pauschenwein: Experiments with connectivism from a moderator’s point of view
February 2014
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8. Evaluation (miniMOOC13)
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The closed facebook group (28 persons) was fun and worked well – but the
spirit of the fb group didn’t survive in the open Google+ environment.
87% of the participants were satisfied with the training.
82% appreciated the work of the moderator, 93% the inputs of the expert.
71% of the learners answered that the online socialization in facebook
supported them in the open learning process in Google+
But the moderator didn‘t know how many learners there were – between 61148 watched the videos of the hangouts.
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February 2014
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9. Intermediary result
 The miniMOOCs worked in a way.
 The inclusion of e-tivities was helpful.
 The learners appreciated the moderators nearly as much as the
facilitators.
 The online socialisation in the facebook group was successful (but
didn’t help that much for the open phase).
So what?
 We returned to our closed groups and moderated four online courses
since the miniMOOC13 in Jan./Feb. 12.
 We attended MOOCs and reflected our learning experiences and had
a lot of discussions.
Jutta Pauschenwein: Experiments with connectivism from a moderator’s point of view
February 2014
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10. Perspective (cope14 MOOC)
 In autumn 2013 we convinced our directors to support a MOOC.
 We looked for facilitators who will bring their expertise into our MOOC.
 We are developing a didactical concept including moderation.
Competences for Global Collaboration – cope14
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6 weeks - 22nd April to 02nd June 2014
Week 1: Communication across borders: Introduction and warm-up (Facilitators: Rupert
Beinhauer, Jutta Pauschenwein; Visiting Speaker: Heinz Wittenbrink,)
Week 2: Legal cultures (Facilitator: Doris Kiendl-Wendner)
Week 3: Doing Business in Emergent Markets (Facilitator: Thomas Schmalzer; Visiting
Speaker: Vito Bobek)
Week 4: Relationships & Networks in Business to Business Marketing (Facilitator:
Denny Seiger; Visiting Speaker: Rahul Singh)
Week 5: International communication and negotiation (Facilitator: Gudrun Reimerth;
Visiting Speaker: Maryam Bigdeli)
Week 6: Transfer into individual contexts (Facilitators: Maja Pivec, Jutta Pauschenwein)
Jutta Pauschenwein: Experiments with connectivism from a moderator’s point of view
February 2014
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11. Thank you,
I’m looking forward to questions, suggestions, ideas …
http://www.cope14.at/
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