Self Organisation and Virtual Learning

Steve Wheeler University of Plymouth, UK www2.plymouth.ac.uk/distancelearning

Self Organisation and the Management of Virtual Student Learning

cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

What is self organised learning?

Self organised and personalised learning

Creating spaces for self organised learning

Personal learning environments (PLEs)

Conclusions

In this presentation... cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

What is self organised learning? cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

We cannot ‘manage’ self-organised learning for our students.

We can only create conducive environments within which students will organise their own learning.

Self organised learning cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Formal and Informal learning Formal Learning Informal Learning cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Self organised learning Formal Learning Informal Learning Self Organised Learning In SOL students take responsibility for their own learning and put this into successful action. Source: http://www.equal-works.com cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Informal learning

“ Informal learning should no longer be regarded as an inferior form of learning whose main purpose is to act as the precursor of formal learning; it needs to be seen as fundamental, necessary and valuable in its own right , at times directly relevant to employment and at other times not relevant at all”.

(Coffield 2000: 8)

“ Too much schooling kills off a desire to learn.... Schools and universities should become more like hubs of learning, within the community, capable of extending into the community...”

“ More learning needs to be done at home, in offices and kitchens, in the contexts where knowledge is deployed to solve problems and add value to people's lives”.

(Leadbeater 2000: 111-112)

Informal learning cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Is self organised learning personalised learning? cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Self organised learning

In self organised learning...

“ ...the autonomous or self-organised learner [is] able to ‘learn how to learn’ and possesses a disposition to do so. Such a learner can analyse his/her own learning strategies and outcomes as well as support the learning of others. S/he also knows how to make an effective contribution to and benefit from the processes of teamwork and working with others.”

(West-Burnham & Coates, 2005)

In self organised learning...

“ ...the autonomous or self-organised learner [is] able to ‘ learn how to learn’ and possesses a disposition to do so. Such a learner can analyse his/her own learning strategies and outcomes as well as support the learning of others. S/he also knows how to make an effective contribution to and benefit from the processes of teamwork and working with others.”

(West-Burnham & Coates, 2005)

For successful self organised learning the essential components are:

Communication

Reflection

Collaboration

Community

Creative Tools

Amplification

How can we create spaces for self organised learning? cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Modes of learning Informal Formal Collaborative Reflective E-portfolios Essay writing Group work Co-operative learning Social networking Blogging Microblogging cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Space integration Community space Personal space cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Wiki blog integration Reflective space Collaborative space Blog Wiki Community space Personal space cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Wiki blog integration Reflective space Collaborative space Blog Wiki Negotiation of meaning Co-construction of knowledge Community space Personal space Proximal Development Professional ID cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

Wiki blog integration Who I am What I know Blog Wiki Reflection Self expression (Brescia & Miller, 2006) Creative writing Critical thinking Meta cognitive processes Socio cognitive processes (Gleaves et al, 2007) Sharing/exchanging Editing/modifying (Tu et al, 2008) cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

What can personal learning environments do? cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009

My Personal Learning Environment i cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009 Devices Interface Tools

My Personal Learning Environment Document search Image search Scholar Google Books i Search for reading materials Web cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009 Devices Interface Tools

My Personal Learning Environment Reflective blog post and amplification i cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009 Devices Interface Tools

My Personal Learning Environment © Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009 Image sharing and amplification i Devices Interface Tools

Personal Learning Environment Social Network E-Portfolio Aggregator Adapted from David Delgado, 2007 Personal Learning Environment Model cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009 Blog LMS External Services Web 2.0

Personal Learning Environment Social Network E-Portfolio Aggregator Personal Learning Environment Model Self organised Institutionally managed Adapted from David Delgado, 2007 cc Steve Wheeler, University of Plymouth, 2009 Blog LMS External Services Web 2.0

Conclusions...