E-Learning Groups and Communities. – Book Review
E-Learning Groups and Communities.
McConnell, David.
David McConnell’s book E-Learning Groups and Communities is a necessary read for any educator interested in providing distance education opportunities for their students. In his research, David takes a holistic approach to his study of e-learning behaviors and communities. In his preferred approach to e-learning McConnell discusses the advantage of community based learning as opposed to competitive or individual type learning, He refers to this as networked collaborative learning. In many of today’s classrooms either online or traditional, we focus on teaching to outcomes of a particular subject. McDonnell actually sees this as a hindrance to the learning process. (p 14).
The text is well ordered and chapters build upon each other. Chapter 1 discusses theories and learning models of online education. Then David begins in chapter 2 discussing a real world course model called Masters in E-learning. This course is designed to give educators interested in moving to online education a way to develop communities and understand the vast differences between traditional classrooms on online classes. There is an example of the letter sent out to prospective students that fully outlines the way the course is run and the roll of tutors and instructors. It shows a great shift in thinking about how online communities are developed and assessed. Examples are also given to a workshop and the MaE two-year schedule. He discusses the structures of the course and its three main components. Workshops, Phases and Activities are the main components of the course. As David discusses the course model, he does a great job not only describing the model but includes the reasons why the course is designed in this matter.
Chapter 3 moves smoothly into the online communities themselves.
“Finding the time adequately to contribute to online discussions and group work is clearly an important issue for these students. They are all part-time students, and most have busy and demanding jobs. A very high number say that it is difficult to contribute adequately to their satisfaction.” (McConnell, 2006 pg. 67)
The above quote certainly rings true in our current situation as BTAD students. David discusses this issue and provides possible solutions to this problem. Through tables and examples, student’s roles take on clear meaning as to what make an effective e-leaning community.
Chapters 4 and 5 take on the issues of assessment in e-learning courses. David takes a position here, discusses his views on self, and peer assessment as opposed to instructor student assessment. Chapter 5 is a great look at how the students themselves feel about self, peer and tutor assessment. (Tutors in England are to T.A.s or assistant professors in the US) He uses many direct student quotes from both online discussions and interviews he conducted, about how they felt about peer reviews. He does not just pick the quotes that suit is needs but shows a variety and give great feedback on each one.
Next David moves onto 2 theories, Action Based Learning and problem based learning and discusses the pros and cons of each system. He clearly leans more towards a Action based model but does not dismiss the appropriate use of problem based learning.
David concludes his book with a overview of online communities and technology. He discusses the impact of this ever-changing pedagogy with both opinion and fact. The book is a great read. David is a clear writer and does not confuse issues. It was an easier read than I first expected but easier does not mean simpler. I would say it just is not cluttered with extra information, but delivers fact and theory in a succinct manner I would highly recommend this to any online educator.
Site in progress
I am currently working on a new design for ddion.com. I was thinking each section would have a new background. Using Flash the bee and hummingbird on the lower right would randomly fly by a make a short appearance.
So since this is still in development I would love anyone’s opinion. Even the bad please.
The following images are site layout mock ups. They will be a bit larger on the site itself.
All photos are my own.
Virtual Politics/Virtual Communities a Review
In his article, Darren G. Lilleker writes about the creation and use of virtual political communities. Professor Lilleker mentions that one of the ways the Internet is revolutionary in creating political communities is that there is no control over information; essentially the standard communication gatekeepers have been removed from the delivery of information. Communities are free to add edit and disseminate information to suit the needs of the communities.
On the topic of blogs he states
“Such communications can lead to the creation of a community. Members can access at their leisure, as regularly as they wish and at a time convenient for them” Lilleker 2006
People have created many political communities through the use of blogs. Some more well known ones are, on the left, The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ and, on the right, The Conservative Foundry http://www.conservativefoundry.com This medium allows for all interested to become involved even if those individuals had never been politically involved in more traditional ways. The anonymity of the Internet and lack of gate keeping allows one to comment or report without fear leading to a livelier debate.
Can these communities actually facilitate change? The article suggests that it is still undecided that actual real world political change can come from virtual political communities but some excellent examples are given about anti war, WTO and World bank protests that took place in the virtual world then re communicated through other means of mass media such as television and newspapers.
This article was written in 2006 and as we saw in the 2008 election of Barack Obama that virtual political communities can and do facilitate change. In October 2008, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey that found a 23% increase from 2004 in Americans getting campaign news from the Internet while television and news remained flat. Would the election results been the same without the Internet. I believe not.
Dr, Darren G. Lilleker is a Senior Lecturer at Bournemouth University in county Dorset UK.
http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/about/people_at_bu/our_academic_staff/TMS/publications/dlilleker.html
Virtual Politics/Virtual Communities. (2006). In Key Concepts in Political Communication. Retrieved from http://168.156.198.98:2226/entry/sageukpc/virtual_politics_virtual_communities
Internet Now Major Source of Campaign News (2008)
Retrieved from http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1017/internet-now-major-source-of-campaign-news
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Do Good Design
Be true to your profession
Be true to yourself
Use 10 percent to create a more just world
This is a series of short excerpts from David Berman. The videos are from the Voices that matter conference. In this particular excerpt, David discusses the possibilities of what can be done if designers take a pledge to spend 10% of their weekly time to doing good design. One of the examples he mentions is using a system, Coca Cola packaging and doubling the use of that to not only deliver the beverage but small items that can help with certain issues in a given region, vaccines or condoms are mentioned as examples.
David speaks to the idea that design can have both positive and negative results to society, over consumption, global warming. As designers, are we directly responsible for these problems? I believe we are not the sole cause but play a major role and have the ability to facilitate change.
What are the possibilities of do good design in our own area. Can we design ads that not only advertise a product but also bring attention to a greater social cause such as homelessness, aids, global warming. As designers, we can certainly do this with a fair amount of ease. Getting our clients to climb aboard may be a greater hurdle. Having a web client for example, pledge to donate a percentage of their sites to a social cause.
I agree that designers have a great amount of power and can affect change but we have to cull others to follow. That will have to be included in the do good design mission. As our world becomes smaller using technology we designers not only have power to make change it should also be a responsibility. Next time you design ask yourself what impact does this design have and find a way to change something for the better with your design.
http://www.peachpit.com/podcasts/episode.aspx?e=8b90af27-f0da-4afe-b350-81e0a345eba5
DD – 2009
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