KM and WEB 2.0 methods for project-based learning. MESHAT : a monitoring and experience sharing tool

Our work aims at studying tools offered to learners and tutors involved in face-to-face or blended project-based learning activities. To understand better the needs and expectations of each actor, we are especially interested in the specific case of project management training. The results of a course observation show that the lack of monitoring and expertise transfer tools involves important dysfunctions in the course organisation and therefore dissatisfaction for tutors and students (in particular about the acquisition of knowledge and expertise). So as to solve this problem, we propose a personalised platform (according to the actor: project group, student or tutor), which gives information to monitor activities and supports the acquisition and transfer of expertise. This platform is based on Knowledge Management (KM) and Web 2.0 concepts to support the dynamic building of knowledge. KM is used to define the learning process (based on the experiential learning theory) and the way the individual knowledge building is monitored (based on metacognitive concepts). Web 2.0 is used to define the way the experience is shared. We make the hypothesis that this approach improves the acquisition of complex skills (e.g. management, communication and collaboration), which requires a behavioural evolution. We aim at making the students become able 'to learn to learn' and evolve according to contexts. We facilitate their ability to have a critical analysis of their actions according to the situations they encounter.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:0911.031

Portfolio building assessment of adult tutors for distance learning

In the emerging Knowledge‐based Economy, it is becoming more and more important for adult tutors to be clear about what they know and can do what they provide as niche “producer,” what they need to be able to do in the future. Traditional academic credentials do not capture these notions as a competence and learning can be recorded through e‐portfolio building assessment. SM, NBU project The paper describes the efforts of the School of Management, New Bulgarian University, applying the competence route through e‐portfolio building assessment. The purpose of assessment is to find out whether adult tutor/ trainer can do a task to the required standard or not. Applying this to the situation at hand, assessment is about gathering evidence to prove they have met the specified performance criteria of the Standard for flexible distance learning. In doing so, it enables the tutors to receive an accreditation of prior experience & learning. Portfolio Building Assessment The main objectives are: • To utilize the existing competencies and knowledge • To stimulate the continuous professional development (CPD) • To structure the activities of tutor/trainer • To increase transparency of the assessment process • To increase the rigor of quality assurance procedures • To give more opportunities for presenting different type of valid evidences in order to prove competence

Chapter 3: Building an Online Learning Community

The OTiS (Online Teaching in Scotland) programme, run by the now defunct Scotcit programme, ran an International e-Workshop on Developing Online Tutoring Skills which was held between 8–12 May 2000. It was organised by Heriot–Watt University, Edinburgh and The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK. Out of this workshop came the seminal Online Tutoring E-Book, a generic primer on e-learning pedagogy and methodology, full of practical implementation guidelines. Although the Scotcit programme ended some years ago, the E-Book has been copied to the SONET site as a series of PDF files, which are now available via the ALT Open Access Repository. The editor, Carol Higgison, is currently working in e-learning at the University of Bradford (see her staff profile) and is the Chair of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT)

Games-Based Online Course Design: Prototype of Gamification for Online Tutors

With the ubiquity of interactive games in students’ lives and the rise of gamified experiences across the web and mobile applications, online tutors and practitioners of technology enhanced learning have been inspired to incorporate games-based elements. This paper introduces a prototype of an online application that helps online tutors to embed gaming to design their online course. We developed a framework for online course leaders which explains how Wikis (as an online learning platform) can support students’ learning, interaction, and sharing of knowledge in the online community. We are presenting a metaphor for the course design in a gameboard like “snakes and ladders”. This metaphoric game enables online tutors to elaborate online interaction among their students. The game methodological design approach for this metaphoric game merges different pedagogical theories such as (socio-constructivism) with practice in online learning (Wiki) and gives the online tutor an idea about what theory/approach is used when selecting any technological tool or moving forward in the game. This framework could help tutors, educational institutions and students to use a common language with students to describe their teaching and learning activities. Primarily, it helps tutors to make decisions about learning activities, facilitate, guide and support students’ communication and collaboration

Monitoring Conceptual Development: Design Considerations of a Formative Feedback tool

This paper presents the design considerations of a tool aiming at providing formative feedback. The tool uses Latent Semantic Analysis, to automatically generate reference models and provide learners a means to compare their conceptual development against these models. The design of the tool considers a theoretical background which combines research on expertise development, knowledge creation, and conceptual development assessment. The paper also illustrates how the tool will work using a problem and solution scenario, and presents initial validations results. Finally the paper draws conclusions and future work

DIGITAL COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT IN AN INFORMAL ONLINE ENVIRONMENT: A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE USING WIKIPEDIA

This article presents a university teaching experience related to digital competence acquisition and assessment through the creation and editing of Wikipedia entries. The concept of digital competence is based on the European Framework DigComp 2.1. The process of creating entries has been monitored in its various forms 1across formal and informal learning contexts. The aim is to create a true knowledge building environment that favours authentic, situated and participatory evaluation through regulatory interventions from teacher and tutors, and via feedback from other Wikipedia users

Using language technologies to support individual formative feedback

In modern educational environments for group learning it is often challenging for tutors to provide timely individual formative feedback to learners. Taking the case of undergraduate Medicine, we have found that formative feedback is generally provided to learners on an ad-hoc basis, usually at the group, rather than individual, level. Consequently, conceptual issues for individuals often remain undetected until summative assessment. In many subject domains, learners will typically produce written materials to record their study activities. One way for tutors to diagnose conceptual development issues for an individual learner would be to analyse the contents of the learning materials they produce, which would be a significant undertaking. CONSPECT is one of six core web-based services of the Language Technologies for Lifelong Learning (LTfLL) project. This European Union Framework 7-funded project seeks to make use of Language Technologies to provide semi-automated analysis of the large quantities of text generated by learners through the course of their learning. CONSPECT aims to provide formative feedback and monitoring of learners’ conceptual development. It uses a Natural Language Processing method, based on Latent Semantic Analysis, to compare learner materials to reference models generated from reference or learning materials. This paper provides a summary of the service development alongside results from validation of Version 1.0 of the service

Developing new work based learning pathways for housing practitioners whilst participating peripherally and legitimately: The situated learning of work based learning tutors

This paper discusses the experiences of two work based learning tutors at the University of Chester in the context of developing work based learning for housing practitioners

Changing medical student attitudes to patient safety: A multicentre study

Background: Although patient safety is becoming widely taught in medical schools, its effect has been less rigorously evaluated. We describe a multicentre study to evaluate student changes in patient safety attitudes using a standardized instrument, the Attitudes to Patient Safety Questionnaire3 (APSQ3). Methods: A patient safety training package designed for medical students was delivered in the first year and second year in four Australian medical schools. It comprises eight face-to-face modules, each of two hours. Seminars start with an interactive introduction using questions, video and role play, followed by small group break-outs to discuss a relevant case study. Groups are led by medical school tutors with no prior training in patient safety. Students and tutors then reassemble to give feedback and reinforce key concepts. Knowledge and attitudes to patient safety were measured using the APSQ3, delivered prior to safety teaching, at the end of the first and second years and 12 months after teaching ceased. Results: A significant improvement in attitude over time was demonstrated for four of nine key items measured by the APSQ3: value of patient safety teaching; danger of long working hours, value of team work and the contribution patients can make in reducing error. Informal feedback from students was very positive. Conclusion: We showed persistent, positive learning from a patient safety education intervention 12 months after teaching finished. Building on the introduction of patient safety teaching into medical schools, pathways for motivated students such as appropriate electives, option terms and team-based research projects would be of value