Open Education in Virtual Worlds

Tapping the Potential of OpenBlended Courses in Virtual Worlds Stylianos Mystakidis University of Patras

Stylianos Mystakids• Learning Innovator @ Library & Information Services, University of Patras• Adjunct Faculty @ Open University of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain)  WWW• Teaching Assistant @ University of Washington (Seattle, USA)  SL

Fast Track!

Open Education +Virtual Worlds = Change Synopsis

This is my story!

University of Patras (Upatras)• World Ranking*: #327• Greece Ranking*: #2• 24,000 students | 800 Faculty members• Prominent Research Center on ICT & Engineering*Webometrics,2012

Patras• 3rd largest city of Greece• 222.000 population• History & Technology St. Andrew’s Church Rion - Antirrion Bridge

Library & Information Services• National & European Research Projects• Institution-wide Services (e.g. Repository)• ISO 9001:2000• Openness-oriented

Explosive Environment

Budget Cuts

Retirements

Reformation of Higher Education

E-Learning inGreek Higher Education?

Mission Impossible?

Business As Usual User Training & Support

Training Needs Analysis Target Audience: Graduate & PhD Students Survey Interviews Aim: What & How

Training Needs Analysis (2)https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEFUeFhkX2tWMUw2MWttaUlHNWVjakE6MQ#gid=0

Syllabus Threads1.Information Literacy2.Academic Development3.Life-long Learning4.Professional Development

1. Information Literacy• Information Literacy Models (Big6, Sconul etc.)• Information seeking• Location & Access of Information• Organization & Evaluation of Information• Information Synthesis

2. Academic Development• Paper Writing• Publishing in Journals• Presentation in Scientific Conferences

3. Life Long Learning• Personal Learning Network (PLN/PLE)• Learning 2.0• Effective use of Social Media & Collaborative Web 2.0 Services• Innovation & Creativity

4. Professional Development• Resume (CV) & Cover Letter• Job seeking strategies• Job Interviews

Skills, Knowledge, Attitudeshttp://www.mindmeister.com/119798295

Action-packed LearningSource: http://blog.cathy-moore.com/

Blended Learningα. Asynchronous Self-Study & Group work• Wiki (Community & Collaboration) openworkshop.pbworks.comβ. Synchronous Workshops(weekly physical & virtual meetings)• Library & Information Services Lab• Virtual Immersive Learning Environment (SL)

Marketing• Telephone, p2p• Posters• Documents to Departments• E-mails• Social Media

Administration on the Cloud• Enrollment – Google Forms & Documents• Communication – Blog (News, Announcements) openworkshop.wordpress.com – Facebook Page facebook.com/UpatrasOpenWorkshop – Twitter (IM) openworkshopUoP – Tag: #owilupatras

Intermediate ReportNov 2011 – Jan 2012

Open Workshopon Information Literacy

Learner Profile

85 Applicants 2% 9% 22% 5% Undergraduate Graduate PhD Candidates18% Faculty Teaching Personell Other 44%

Other; 6 Biology; 2 Geology; 3 Business Chemical Administration; 2 Engineering; 5 Chemistry; 2 Preschool Teachers; 11 Physics; 4 Electrical Philosophy; 4 Engineers; 2 Medicine; 1 Philology; 4 Pharmacy; 2 CivilEngineering; 1 Mathematics; 10 Information Education; 12 Science; 9 Mechanical Financing; 4 Engineering; 1

Motivation Aquintance with new 67 Learning Environments Professional Development 55 Skills & KnowledgeAcademic Development Skills 51 & Knowledge

Instructional Strategy

Asynchronous Collaboration (wiki)

Faculty | Speakers• University of Patras (3)• Other Universities (2)

Active Participation

Learner Participation• Applicants: 85• Wiki: 64 members• Facebook page: 40 likes• Second Life Group: 38 μέλη• Weekly Meetings: 25 (Μ.Ο.)

Evaluation

Feedback on Learning QualityI liked Wednesday’s meeting very much.[…] I enjoyed the presentation mostlybecause beyond plagiarism critique, itoffered practical alternative methods toavoid it. […] I got several new ideas fromthis session. Faculty Member Comment, 12/10/12

Spontaneous Open Self Reflection MotivationReaction Learning

Accomplishments

1 Greek University stCourse in Virtual Worlds

Learning without Time limitations• 2 hours 35 minutes: Time Interval between the end of the 1st Meeting and and 1st student activity (edit) in the Course’s Wiki• 57,9%: Percentage of student activity in the Wiki after midnight during the first week (64,3% after 9 pm)

The end of GeographyRecorded Access Points:• Greece Patras, Athens, Corfu, Rhodes• France• The Netherlands• USA

1st Mendeley Training in a 3D Environment (worldwide)

Local & Global Publicity (AERA)

Result?

The Protagonists

Dr. Catherine Synellis• Director @ Library & Information Services, University of Patras• MSc, University of Bonn, Germany• PhD, University of Ioannina, Greece• Hellenic Open University Faculty

Dr. Giannis Tsakonas• Librarian @ Library & Information Services, University of Patras• PhD in Information Science, Ionian University, Greece• Postdoctoral Researcher in Cultural Data

University of WashingtonSpecial thanks to• Professor Michael Eisenberg, UW Dean Emeritus• Mr. Randy Hinrichs, Faculty of UW’s Virtual Worlds Certificate Progam

Open Education +Virtual Worlds = Change

Lessons Learned• Evolution, not Revolution• Get a Sponsor for your Project (PMI)• Find Support from the Innovators• Document & Measure Success (Metrics)• Inspire the Visionary• Lead by Example

“If you want to change the world,start with deceptively small things”

Questions?

blog.edu.gr@stylianosm2mystakidis@upatras.grStylianos LingStylianos MystakidisLearning Triathlete

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Open Education in Virtual Worlds

by Stylianos Mystakidis

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