Facilitators:

Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld*, David McConnel**, Ditte Kolbæk, Elsebeth K. Sorensen, Hakon Tolsby, Sheena Banks, Vic Lally

Aalborg University *lone@hum.auc.dk

University of Shieffield d.mcconnell@sheffield.ac.uk

Collaborative Learning Workshops at CSCL 2003

Workshop I Summary

Workshop I: Participants will participate in a discussion of the overall didactical design principles for collaborative virtual learning communities. The discussion takes point of departure in two cases of distributed CSCL.

Workshop I Description

The workshop addresses the question of the overall didactical design principles for collaborative virtual learning communities. Information and communication technologies are seen as more than a tool but as an environment where learning is fostered. The focus is on the complex aspects and wholeness of collaborative learning and group working, and how these aspects are afforded and supported by artifacts and the staging of the virtual environment over time. The workshop takes point of departure in two different practices of distributed CSCL: Master in ICT and Learning based on the approach of problem oriented project pedagogy, and Master of Collaborative E-learning based on the approach of research learning community /community of practice. To be discussed: What constitutes the community? How to support the shared practice? How to support mutual engagement? How to develop a shared repertoire? How is the concept of collaborative learning manifested? And how are the different aspects afforded and supported by artifacts and the staging of the virtual environment over time? The workshop builds on work going on in the European Network – E-quality in E-learning research Laboratory (EQUEL), especially the SIG 3: E-learning Communities and Collaborative Learning.

Workshop II Summary

Workshop II: Participants will participate in a shared analysis of didactical principles for course work and project work in collaborative virtual learning communities.

Workshop II Description

The workshop addresses the question, of researching didactical models for course- and project work, which best fits a collaborative virtual learning environment. Based on qualitative data from two different practices of distributed CSCL: Master in ICT and Learning based on the approach of problem oriented project pedagogy, and Master of Collaborative E-learning based on the approach of research learning community /community of practice, the participants will conduct a shared analysis of the following elements: Which structuring elements foster a dynamic learning environment: problem formulation, roles, melody, language, technology? What are the roles of the students? What are the roles of the teacher /tutor? And what are the roles of the technology? The workshop participants will have to come up with new didactical design principles, which can solve some of the problems identified through the analysis. The workshop will alternate between small presentations of data from the two cases and shared analysis and discussions. The workshop builds on work going on in the European Network – E-quality in E-learning research Laboratory (EQUEL), especially the SIG 3: E-learning Communities and Collaborative Learning.

References

Banks, S, Goodyear, P, Hodgson, V and McConnel, D (Eds.): Proceedings of the Third International Conference jointly organised by University of Sheffield and Lancaster University, 26th-28th March 2002. ISBN:0902831410 Dirckinck-Holmfeld, L & Fibiger, B (Eds.) (2002): Learning in Virtual Environments, Samfundslitteratur Press, Frederiksberg, DK.