A Formal Context Representation Framework for Network-Enabled Cognition

Network-accessible resources are inherently contextual with respect to the specific situations (e.g., location and default assumptions) in which they are used. Therefore, the explicit conceptualization and representation of contexts is required to address a number of problems in Network- Enabled Cognition (NEC). We propose a context representation framework to address the computational specification of contexts. Our focus is on developing a formal model of context for the unambiguous and effective delivery of data and knowledge, in particular, for enabling forms of automated inference that address contextual differences between agents in a distributed network environment. We identify several components for the conceptualization of contexts within the context representation framework. These include jurisdictions (which can be used to interpret contextual data), semantic assumptions (which highlight the meaning of data), provenance information and inter-context relationships. Finally, we demonstrate the application of the context representation framework in a collaborative military coalition planning scenario. We show how the framework can be used to support the representation of plan-relevant contextual information

Collective intelligence for OER sustainability

To thrive, the Open Educational Resource (OER) movement, or a given initiative, must make sense of a complex, changing environment. Since “sustainability” is a desirable systemic capacity that our community should display, we consider a number of principles that sharpen the concept: resilience, sensemaking and complexity. We outline how these motivate the concept of collective intelligence (CI), we give examples of what OER-CI might look like, and we describe the emerging Cohere CI platform we are developing in response to these requirements

Social media in collaborative learning in higher education : a qualitative case study of teachers’ and students’ views

In this study, it was investigated how social media are used in collaborative learning in higher education and also how it can be better used in teaching and learning according to the students and teachers. The research questions of this study were: 1) How social media are used in collaborative learning by the teachers and students in higher education for educational purposes? 2) How could social media be used in collaborative learning process in higher education, according to the students and teachers? Qualitative interviews were conducted to collect the data from ten students and five teachers from the different faculties of University of Lapland and Lapland University of Applied Sciences. In conclusion it was found that, social media were not much used in collaboration with teachers by the students of both institutions. In case of teachers, it was found that all of them were using social media in their collaborative ways of teaching design and they have found social media as useful tool to deliver their teaching. Most of the students and all the teachers found social media to be useful in their teaching and learning. But there were also some challenges faced and areas of improvements identified by them. Thus the higher educational institutions should understand the importance of using social media in teaching and learning and take initiatives to overcome the current challenges identified by the students and teachers

A literature review of the use of Web 2.0 tools in Higher Education

This review focuses on the use of Web 2.0 tools in Higher Education. It provides a synthesis of the research literature in the field and a series of illustrative examples of how these tools are being used in learning and teaching. It draws out the perceived benefits that these new technologies appear to offer, and highlights some of the challenges and issues surrounding their use. The review forms the basis for a HE Academy funded project, ‘Peals in the Cloud’, which is exploring how Web 2.0 tools can be used to support evidence-based practices in learning and teaching. The project has also produced two in-depth case studies, which are reported elsewhere (Galley et al., 2010, Alevizou et al., 2010). The case studies focus on evaluation of a recently developed site for learning and teaching, Cloudworks, which harnesses Web 2.0 functionality to facilitate the sharing and discussion of educational practice. The case studies aim to explore to what extent the Web 2.0 affordances of the site are successfully promoting the sharing of ideas, as well as scholarly reflections, on learning and teaching

Reaching for the Moon: Expanding transactive memory\u27s reach with wikis and tagging

Transactive memory systems (TMS) support knowledge sharing and coordination in groups. TMS are enabled by the encoding, storage, retrieval, and communication of knowledge by domain experts-knowing who knows what. The NASA Ames Intelligent Robotics Group provides an example of how TMS theoretical boundaries are stretched in actual use. This group is characterized as being highly innovative as they routinely engage in field studies that are inherently difficult due to time and technology resource constraints. We provide an expanded view of TMS that includes the technology support system available to this group, and possible further extensions to NASA\u27s or other such dynamic groups\u27 practice

Characterizing and unpacking learning to learn together skills in a wiki project in primary education

This is the author accepted manuscript.The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.Learning to learn together (L2L2) skills are widely acknowledged as some of the most important 21 st century skills that enable learners to participate in a digital and global society. This paper examines how L2L2 skills emerged in a small-group wiki-based collaborative project and in the context of face-to-face real-classroom practice, in order to conceptualise L2L2 and identify the key features of the skills involved. To this end, our paper reports on an empirical study with primary school students who worked in two different modes of interaction, namely face-to-face in-pair discussion and on-line wiki-based between-pair discussion. The study identified and defined key features of four L2L2 skills, namely distributed leadership, mutual engagement, group reflection and group assessment, all of which emerged to a similar extent during the wiki project. It was found that a few distinctive features of L2L2 skills are related to different stages of task resolution, wiki affordances and different modes of collaboration. Therefore, this empirical study argues that technology and pedagogy are equally important and required to promote L2L2 skills in primary school classrooms and also it discusses some educational implications for the design of more effective technology-enhanced pedagogy.This research was funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of the Spanish Government (projects number: EDU2012-32415 and EDU2016-80258-R)

The use of wikis as alternatives to learning content management systems

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify whether a wiki can be used as an alternative to a popular learning content management system (LCMS) in an e-learning environment. The research attempts to identify what value each of these e-learning components added to the students learning experience. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative approach in the form of a survey was used. The survey was conducted amongst a group of undergraduate students who were using both a LCMS and a wiki in their academic course, along with the attendance of lectures. Findings – From the response of the students, the wiki used could be considered as a useful alternative to a LCMS. The LCMS was favoured over the wiki on a number of aspects but features of the wiki made it ideal to enhance collaboration amongst learners. This makes it an ideal tool to support minimal invasive education (MIE), where learners get an opportunity to learn from their peers. Research limitations/implications – The comparison used between the wiki and the LCMS was not ideal in all aspects as the wiki was used for a particular role in the course and did not have the same features and functionalities of the LCMS. Originality/value – This paper focuses on a valuable alternative to a conventional LCMS in the form of a wiki, in an attempt to improve the learning experience of students

Understanding Tailorable Technology Use through Social Representations Theory

This research utilizes social representations theory to inform the study of tailorable technologies. Specifically, we investigate how social representations theory can be used as a mechanism to understanding technology tailoring-in-use. The work extends earlier tailorable technology design work by looking at the processes by which people tailor technology during use. It also extends social representations theory by applying it in the emerging domain of technologies that are defined in-use by users and not through predetermined goals of a design team. Together these two domains support the notion that technology and interaction constitute an emergent combination that cannot be generalized beyond the local interactions of groups. It is therefore critical for us to have the tools to understand this new order and social representations theory and tailorable technology use proved an excellent platform to consider this challenge

Mapping creative pedagogies in open wiki learning environments

As applied to education, creativity has become an increasingly common, yet often unattainable learning objective. Educators need innovative approaches and tools to effectively apply creative teaching practices. The present study aims to investigate how wiki methodologies can foster creative pedagogies. Wikis constitute a good candidate for stimulating creative teaching approaches. Indeed, they provide flexible and open environments which foster collaboration and students' active participation. However, a gap remains in the literature regarding the relationship between wikis and creative pedagogies. In addition, the use of wikis by teachers and students as collaborative editing tools in today's classroom has been scarcely studied. In this multiple case study, seven school teachers from different educational centres designed four scenarios mediated by wikis and applied them with 143 students. Using in-depth interviews and expert evaluations, we explored how creativity emerges while teaching and learning with wikis. Based on results, we propose a map of creative pedagogies that appeared as the most prominent in the context of wiki-based learning, together with their characteristic components. Namely, the emerging creative pedagogies are synergistic collaboration, learner-centred, knowledge connection and open-ended ethos. This mapping can be applied to different educational contexts, although it may vary according to the specificities of the methodology and technology used. The study raises discussion on the pedagogical possibilities offered by the participative digital culture that defines wiki approaches