Multichannel Self-Organized Learning and Research in Web 2.0 Environment

Multichannel Self-Organized Learning and Research in Web 2.0 Environment TENCompetence Special Technology Track "Technology Support for Self-Organized Learners" Malinka Ivanova, Technical University – Sofia

Aim

Support self-organized learners by building a multichannel environment based on performed research and analysis of start pages

Outlines

eLearning 2.0 Features

Start Pages analysis

Multichannel learning and research environment design

Self-Organized Learning in Start Pages

Prototype of Multichannel Learning and Research Environment

Conclusion

eLearning

a strategy for learning

employs technologies, tools and systems

support knowledge increase and skills improvement

at times and terms defined by each learner

the first area to benefit from the Web 2.0 principles

Web 2.0

New tools and services

Blogs

Microblogs

Wikis

RSS/Atom syndication

Podcasts

Social bookmarking

Start pages

Mashups

Resource sharing

Social networks

Impact on the learners

Encourage informal conversation

Collaborative content generation

Sharing of information

Learners access to a vast array of ideas and representations of knowledge

Ability to form meaningful communities and collaborate

Ability to interconnect applications

eLearning 2.0

What is eLearning 2.0?

eLearning 2.0 is based on Web 2.0 and emerging trends in eLearning. It can include such features as e-Learning where students create content , collaborate with peers to form a learning network with distribution of content creation and responsibilities, e-Learning that takes advantage of many sources of content aggregated together into learning experiences and e-Learning that utilizes various tools including online references, courseware, knowledge management, collaboration and search.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELearning_2.0

What is eLearning 2.0?

“ In the future it will be more widely recognized that the learning comes not from the design of learning content but in how it is used . Most e-learning theorists are already there, and are exploring how learning content-whether professionally authored or created by students— can be used as the basis for learning activities rather than the conduit for learning content.“

Stephen Downes, National Research Council of Canada

http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=29-1

eLearning

eLearning 2.0

eLearning 2.0 for supporting self-organized learners

The main questions:

How to build a technology-rich environment for self-organized learners?

What components should it consist of?

How can Web 2.0 technologies support the implementation of such environment?

Used Methodology

Investigation via Internet search engines

Creation of a set of evaluation criteria

Explore the IEEE LTSA and experimental practices with the environments

Evaluation and forming the result

Explore&Practice Criteria Creation Investigation Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Result Forming Phase 4

investigation via Internet search engines

using keywords “start pages software” and “learning, education”

gathering blog shared experience

Investigation Phase 1

Mashups and Tagging Search Engines

http://fundooweb.com/

Social Aspects: User Contribution, Recommendation, Social Networks Search Engines

http://www.omgili.com

Rich Internet Application Search Interfaces

http://www.kartoo.com/

http://www.mnemo.org/

http://www.quintura.com/

Visual Search

http://www.redzee.com/

Visual Search

http://beta1.managedq.com/

14 Start pages are identified for research and analysis

Set of evaluation criteria

Criteria Creation Phase 2 Existing Tools and Services authoring syndicated information communication collaboration and networking research evaluation Possibilities for extension inside outside Possibilities for personalization look&feel, different arrangement

Point scale

0 Tool is missing 1 Tool with one function 2 Tool with two functions 3 Tool with three functions 4 Tool with some functional possibilities 5 Tool with reach functional possibilities

Start Pages Explore&Practice Phase 3

24eyes http://www.24eyes.com

Authoring : arrange RSS feeds

Information : RSS feeds

Collaboration and Networking : share tags, invite friends to dashboard

C ommunications : email tab to friend

Personalization : create and arrange RSS dashboard, look and feel

Eskobo http://www.eskobo.com/default.aspx

Authoring : web note

Information : RSS feeds, site addresses

Research : search the web

Personalization : look and feel

ItsAStart

http://www.itsastart.com

Authoring : sticky notes

Information : RSS feeds, del.icio.us bookmarks

Research : Google search

Favoor

http://www.favoor.com

Authoring : notes, save links

Information : RSS feeds, bookmark import

Collaboration : share links

MyGetGo http://mygetgo.com/index.html

Authoring : microblog, notepad

Information : RSS feeds, link sites, YouTube videos, bookmarks

Research : multiple search

Collaboration and Networking : Flickr photos, store and share files

Personalization : add modules and widgets, change themes

Personalized Google homepage

www.google.com/ig

Authoring : via gadgets, notes

Information : RSS feeds, YouTube videos, del.icio.us bookmarks, podcast

Collaboration and Networking : Flickr photos, share panels and widgets

Communications : email

Personalization : create or add existing gadgets

Goowy

http://www.goowy.com

Authoring : sticky notes, calendar, file storage

Information : RSS feeds, bookmarks

Research : search

Collaboration and Networking: send invitation via email

Communications : email, AIM, ICQ

Jimdo

http://www.jimdo.com

Authoring : simple site creation tools, text creation;

Information : RSS feeds, add links, YouTube videos;

Research : search engine;

Collaboration and Networking : guest book, add links to social networks and virtual spaces;

Communications: email;

Personalization : add widgets, look and feel templates

Netvibes

http://www.netvibes.com

Authoring : to-do list, notes, calendar, web storage

Information : RSS feeds, YouTube videos, del.icio.us bookmarks, podcast

Research : multiple searches

Collaboration and Networking : Flickr photos, Facebook, Meebo, feeds and modules can be shared with others individually or via the Netvibes Ecosystem

Communications : email, Skype

Personalization : add user-created widgets, feed&look

Pageflakes http://www.pageflakes.com

Authoring : to-do list, notes, calendar

Information : RSS feeds, YouTube videos, del.icio.us bookmarks

Research : web search

Collaboration and Networking : share pages, invite friends, collaborate on project, Flickr photos, Facebook, Twitter

Communications : email

Personalization : add user-created modules

Protopage http://protopage.com

Authoring : to-do list, sticky note, blog, comment box, calendar

Information : RSS feeds, YouTube videos, bookmarks, images, podcasts

Collaboration and Networking : share tabs

Personalization : add widget, look and feel

Microsoft Personal Start Page

http://www.start.com

Information : RSS feeds

Collaboration : share tabs

Personalization : add tabs, look and feel

SuprGlu

http://www.suprglu.com

Authoring : add service to existing blog site

Information : RSS feeds, bookmarks

Collaboration and Networking : add service to existing networks

SurfNinja http://www.surfninja.com

Authoring : wiki, blog Information : RSS feeds, YouTube videos, del.icio.us bookmarks, podcast

Research : multiple searches

Collaboration and Networking : Flickr photos, Facebook, other

Communications : forum, Skype

Personalization : add widgets

IEEE Learning Technology Systems Architecture

Interaction Context Assessment Locator Learner Info Learner Info ( history ) Query Catalog Info Locator Learning Content ( new ) ( current ) Multimedia Behavior Interaction Context Learner Preferences Delivery Evaluation Coach Learning Resources Learner Records Learner Entity

Used Methodology

Multimedia Behavior Interaction Context Learner Preferences Assessment Locator Learner Info Learner Info ( history ) Query Catalog Info Locator Learning Content ( new ) ( current ) Learner Entity – exist, single learner, the learner's behavior can not be observed Learner Entity Delivery Evaluation Coach Learning Resources Learner Records

Multimedia Behavior Interaction Context Learner Preferences Assessment Locator Learner Info Learner Info ( history ) Query Catalog Info Locator Learning Content ( new ) ( current ) Coach – exist, the educator is a consultant, learner is in the role of a coach Learner Entity Delivery Evaluation Coach Learning Resources Learner Records

Multimedia Behavior Interaction Context Learner Preferences Assessment Locator Learner Info Learner Info ( history ) Query Catalog Info Locator Learning Content ( new ) ( current ) Delivery – exist, learning resources are delivered from different sources Learner Entity Delivery Evaluation Coach Learning Resources Learner Records

Multimedia Behavior Interaction Context Learner Preferences Assessment Locator Learner Info Learner Info ( history ) Query Catalog Info Locator Learning Content ( new ) ( current ) Evaluation – exist, self-assessment Learner Entity Delivery Evaluation Coach Learning Resources Learner Records

Multimedia Behavior Interaction Context Learner Preferences Assessment Locator Learner Info Learner Info ( history ) Query Catalog Info Locator Learning Content ( new ) ( current ) Learner Records – there is not DB, but learner can create a portfolio Learner Entity Delivery Evaluation Coach Learning Resources Learner Records

Multimedia Behavior Interaction Context Learner Preferences Assessment Locator Learner Info Learner Info ( history ) Query Catalog Info Locator Learning Content ( new ) ( current ) Learning Resources – gathered from different web-based sources Learner Entity Delivery Evaluation Coach Learning Resources Learner Records

The start page’s limitations:

The evaluation process is limited – data gathering, tracking and evaluation

The coach could be another learner or a group of learners

There are no Learner Records

Several flows are missing: interaction context, learner info, catalog info

Start pages

Possess flexible functions for configuring the existing components in a learning environment

Can be extended with new created components

Can support the self-organized learners in two aspects:

learning – learn to exploit the Learning 2.0 advantages , learn to work with Web 2.0 technologies

research - exploring the riches and functionality of an environment in order to build effective prototypes

Start pages are suitable for building multichannel learning environments, where learning and knowledge capturing can be provided

The start pages Netvibes, Pageflakes and Protopage show the rich possibilities for self-organized learning environments with tools for:

Authoring

Syndicating information

Communication

Collaboration and networking

Researching

Evaluation

Multichannel Environment in Start Pages Text eLearning and Research Authoring channel -create -edit -produce Syndicated information channel -study -interpret -summarize Communi-cation channel -share -discuss -reflect Collaboration and Networking channel -socialize -collaborate -innovate Research channel -search -explore -examine Evaluation channel -evaluate -analyze -track

Two steps for result forming:

evaluation according to each criterion

count the average value of evaluated weight for all criteria

Result Forming Phase 4

Result

Result - positions

The implications of Web 2.0 technologies for learning design

is happened learning and knowledge construction performs are arranged in is received is analyzed by stimulates gets provokes author, co-author contributor distributor searcher moderator reviewer editor researcher evaluator consultant advisor create, share, contribute, distribute, explore, search, tag, communicate, collaborate, subscribe, moderate, mashup, review, critic, edit, analyze, research, evaluate microcontent, applications, tools, services, devices: start pages, blog, microblog, wiki, RSS feeds, podcast, resource sharing, social networks, tagging sites, mashups, communication, quizes/polls, survey attitudes, values, skills knowledge, competences needs, gaps, motivation, aims, thoughts, feelings Actor Role Learner Educator Event Activities Multichannel environment Outcome Play Act 1 Act … Act n Scenario

Prototype of Multichannel Learning and Research Environment

Prototype

a working model in Netvibes and Pageflakes is created to:

test the functions

evaluate research hypotheses

It is used from advanced students (2-3 from a group)

Tools and services in Authoring Channel

to-do list, note, calendar

html component (or widgets) for :

http://www.wiziq.com – online teaching and learning with web conferencing

http://www.blubrry.com - podcasting

www.box.net – store and share documents

http://www.zoho.com/ - create documents

http://www.slideshare.net/ - share presentation

http://animoto.com/ - create and share videos

http://pbwiki.com/ - share information

http://bubbl.us – concept mapping

http://secondlife.com/ - virtual space

http://www.inetword.com/ - social html editor

http://www.mofuse.com – create mobile site

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/ - mashups

Tools and services in Syndication and Information Channel

embedded component for:

Social bookmarking Del.icio.us

Sites as: TechCruch, Mashable, Web 2.0 Explorer, Podcast for Educators, O’Reilly Radar, SKYPE blog, Read/Write Web, and so on

html component for:

http://www.bloglines.com / - RSS reader

http://www.newsgator.com / - RSS reader

http://technorati.com/ - RSS blog reader

Widget

RSS reader

Tools and Services in Communication Channel

Embedded components for:

Email – gmail, hotmail, yahoo, POP3

html component for:

Chat box

http://c4lpt.co.uk/Directory/ - more tools

Tools and Services in Research Channel

Search engines (embedded component/widget) for:

Information, podcast, webcast, video, pictures, locations, blogs

Calculator

Translation tool – Babylon

Poll/survey

Analysis – Alexa traffic, Feedburner, Google Analysis, tracker.icerocket.com

Visualization http://services.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/app

Social Networks

Enbedded components for:

Facebook

Twitter

Flickr

html components for:

Ning social networks

Xing

Google groups

Tools and Services for Evaluation

html components for:

Polls/Survey

http://www.polldaddy.com/

Test/Quizzes

http://www.quizilla.com/

Peer Review

Widget

Time reminder

Widgets

http://www.labpixies.com/

http://www.widgetbox.com

http://widgets.yahoo.com/

http://www.bravenet.com/webtools/widgets.php

http://www.springwidgets.com

http://www.yourminis.com

Students’ opinion

Conclusion

Analysis shows:

Start pages are suitable for easy and fast unfolding of learning and research environment

The information and knowledge can be gathered via many channels for: authoring, syndicated information, communication, collaboration and networking, research, and evaluation