SCoPE Community Essential Elements for Informal Learning Sylvia Currie, SFU Heather Ross, SIAST

Met in person for the first time today!

Overview Background of SCoPE Elements, emphases, and catalysts Evidence that SCoPE is a virtual learning community The work that is needed

Background of SCoPE

Elements, emphases, and catalysts

Evidence that SCoPE is a virtual learning community

The work that is needed

About SCoPE Launch fall, 2005 Free, open to the public Identify and build on SFU interests and expertise and also serve an international audience Encourage the use of SCoPE for research on online communities

Launch fall, 2005

Free, open to the public

Identify and build on SFU interests and expertise and also serve an international audience

Encourage the use of SCoPE for research on online communities

Starting Point Simple, web-based environment Essential communication tools Careful not to “over design” before launch Began with discussion about the community Core activity: monthly seminar discussions Designed for busy people No obligations No guilt allowed!

Simple, web-based environment

Essential communication tools

Careful not to “over design” before launch

Began with discussion about the community

Core activity: monthly seminar discussions

Designed for busy people

No obligations

No guilt allowed!

Elements of Communities Selznik (1996) Historicity Identity Mutuality Plurality Autonomy Participation Integration Schwier (2001) - Virtual Learning Communities An orientation to the future Technology Learning

Selznik (1996)

Historicity

Identity

Mutuality

Plurality

Autonomy

Participation

Integration

Schwier (2001) -

Virtual Learning Communities

An orientation to the future

Technology

Learning

Historicity “ Let's get started. I really liked how Richard set up the last seminar so I'm going to do something similar. ” (Heather Ross - 5 November 2006) “ In the last seminar on online facilitation, Nick and Sylvia used some tools to give us an ‘at a glance’ overview of the discussions. We’ll also be using these tools in this session.” Therese Weel 4 April, 2007

“ Let's get started. I really liked how Richard set up the last seminar so I'm going to do something similar. ” (Heather Ross - 5 November 2006)

“ In the last seminar on online facilitation, Nick and Sylvia used some tools to give us an ‘at a glance’ overview of the discussions. We’ll also be using these tools in this session.” Therese Weel 4 April, 2007

Identity Discussions about SCoPE Vote on name, logo Members’ blogs Appreciation of contributions: “I want to acknowledge David for sharing his cogent notes on our seminar so far. They provide a useful and succinct picture of where we’ve been and where else we might go… (Sarah Haavind 2 June, 2006 ) Profiles

Discussions about SCoPE

Vote on name, logo

Members’ blogs

Appreciation of contributions: “I want to acknowledge David for sharing his cogent notes on our seminar so far. They provide a useful and succinct picture of where we’ve been and where else we might go… (Sarah Haavind 2 June, 2006 )

Profiles

Participation 880 members 43 countries 28 members have volunteered to facilitate seminars 16 Special Interest Groups have been created 3,531 posts 99,211 guest views

880 members

43 countries

28 members have volunteered to facilitate seminars

16 Special Interest Groups have been created

3,531 posts

99,211 guest views

Autonomy In keeping with the tradition at SCoPE, newcomers, latecomers, lurkers, and passersby are always welcomed! Not all participants are visible Opportunity to become familiar with the culture Model respectful communication To date zero instances of inappropriate behaviour

In keeping with the tradition at SCoPE, newcomers, latecomers, lurkers, and passersby are always welcomed!

Not all participants are visible

Opportunity to become familiar with the culture

Model respectful communication

To date zero instances of inappropriate behaviour

Plurality & Mutuality Encourage association with related groups Reciprocity / mutual exchange of services and interests Bringing in knowledge and examples from outside groups

Encourage association with related groups

Reciprocity / mutual exchange of services and interests

Bringing in knowledge and examples from outside groups

Technology: Access and Communication Different modes and levels of engagement Email subscriptions to forums RSS Invisible presence Archives Incidental learning Spontaneous entry into a discussion “ Been lurking asynchronously, but my activation threshold has been reached and I have to jump in with some desultory comments.” Corrie Bergeron - 26 January 2007

Different modes and levels of engagement

Email subscriptions to forums

RSS

Invisible presence

Archives

Incidental learning

Spontaneous entry into a discussion

“ Been lurking asynchronously, but my activation threshold has been reached and I have to jump in with some desultory comments.”

Corrie Bergeron - 26 January 2007

Technology: Co-Construction Smartcopy/ referencing Wikis 3rd party tools Cross-referencing earlier forums Marginalia for tracking/summarizing Search by individual forum or entire group

Smartcopy/ referencing

Wikis

3rd party tools

Cross-referencing earlier forums

Marginalia for tracking/summarizing

Search by individual forum or entire group

Future Members decide the future Ideas for seminar topics emerge through participation Special interest groups to continue discussions Unlike traditional courses with start and end dates, SCoPE continues and is shaped by members’ interests

Members decide the future

Ideas for seminar topics emerge through participation

Special interest groups to continue discussions

Unlike traditional courses with start and end dates, SCoPE continues and is shaped by members’ interests

Learning “ SCoPE is such an amazing learning environment. See you on the 4th!” (Ian McLeod 2 April 2007) Sharing knowledge in workplaces and local communities (plurality)

“ SCoPE is such an amazing learning environment. See you on the 4th!” (Ian McLeod 2 April 2007)

Sharing knowledge in workplaces and local communities (plurality)

Integration

The work that is needed Organize discussion threads for casual participation Management of resources generated through participation Porous boundaries Continue to advance our work together Celebrate our accomplishments

Organize discussion threads for casual participation

Management of resources generated through participation

Porous boundaries

Continue to advance our work together

Celebrate our accomplishments

Join us! http://scope. lidc . sfu .ca