e-chronicle

“The fact that something is technologically possible does not imply that it is also educationally desirable”

- Salomon, 1999, p. 36, cited in Tutty & Klein, JD 2008, ‘Computer-mediated instruction: a comparison of online and face-to-face collaboration’, Education Tech Research Dev, vol. 56, pp. 101-124.

“Beware of inert ideas – ideas that are merely received into the mind without being utilised, or tested, or thrown into fresh combinations.”

- Whitehead 1929, cited in Barkley et al. 2005, Collaborative learning techniques: a handbook for college faculty, Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco.

“The key challenges the Internet community will face in the future is not simply technological, but also sociological.”

- Kollock 1996, p. 1, cited in Dixon et al. 2006, ‘Breaking the ice: supporting collaboration and the development of community online’, Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, vol. 32 no. 2, Spring.

“When there is trust among people, relationships flourish; without it, they wither.”

- Preece 2000, p. 191, cited in Rovia, A 2002, ‘Building sense of community at a distance’, International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, vol. 3 no. 1.

This is the last assignment for EMT1 – YEAH! Click here to read my reflection of the group process in the learning community design. The reflection addresses the following:

• description and analysis of the group process
• synthesis of readings and research
• reflection of how this process can further inform my experiences of learning communities.

I recently participated in a group project which involved designing an e-learning community. I have put up the design here on this page – SANJT: and e-learning community for 1st year nursing students. Alternatively, you can check out the wiki. Go to http://sanjt.wikispaces.com/

I would like to credit the contributions of my fellow group members: Nic Brett, Sabina Levine and Trent McAllan.

“…while technology enables us to quickly access, share, and amass knowledge, it does not automatically transform a group of learners into a community of learners.”

- Dixon, JS 2006, ‘Breaking the ice: supporting collaboration and the development of community online, Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, vol. 32(2) Spring, p. 1.

“Learning cannot be designed…It slips through cracks; it creates its own cracks. Learning happens, design or no design.”

- Wenger, E 1999, Communities of practice, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p. 225.

“…New Yorker cartoon of a dog using the Internet, “On the ‘Net nobody knows you’re a dog.”

- Brown, JS 1999, ‘Learning, working and playing in the digital age’, Conference on Higher Education, The American Association for Higher Education.

“It’s not about the wires, it’s about what flows through them.”

- November, A 2005, cited in Woodland et al. 2007, ‘Virtual learning communities’, Business Education Digest, issue 16, p. 71.

“Technology enables educators to establish learning communities whose boundaries are only limited by the imagination of those who participate within that learning community.”

- Redmond, P & Lock, JL 2008, ‘A flexible framework for online collaborative learning’, The Internet and Higher Education, vol 9, p. 275.