Using communities of practice to facilitate networked learning, a social experiment conducted by two universities - I found this very interesting paper the other day which is yet an example of the growing interest (not: importance) of looking at 'the bridge for knowledge building on design of networked learning'. I emphasize the lines in bold:
This study addresses the challenge of the educational design and implementation of two online Masters’ programs within the humanities and education. The empirical basis for our investigation is the conception and delivery process of both courses from two different educational cultures, respectively; Ireland (MIC) and Denmark (OL). The core intention of the study is to explore, describe, compare, and discuss the extent to which collaborative learning in communities of practice (COPs) (Wenger, 1998) may be said to have developed throughout the learning process. From a perspective of learning as a matter of change taking place through participation in COPs, this paper attempts to assess — using a set of identifying criteria for COPs — the learning value of the processes that emerged from the viewpoint of, both designers as tutors and students.
The Danish project lasted for a mere five weeks and though the potential must have been in there, it did not appear as having come out. Technology, time and (perhaps) too little pragmatic approaches may have given the community not enough time to develop. In five weeks, they committed to spending time in the platform (~the community..) which may not have been sufficient to create a sustainable basis for a community "The Wengerian Way" (see my PS for more). The Irish project looked very similar but with different social structures and participants.
They have a long list of findings (I would rather call them observations, but alas), some of them related to the empirical data that came out of the post-project interviews, which could be summarized as:
- there is potential in the concept to accelerate learning
- the networked learning is inspiring
Worth having a read and contacting if you are interested in the use of social collaborative work in the organizational learning or academic learning trajectory.
PS It's the first time I see the use of the word 'Wengerian'.
This happened at 12:08:25 AM or
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