Heroic failures in disseminating novel e learning technologies to corporate clients: a case study of interactive webcasting

In principle, it should be easier to disseminate novel learning concepts based in technology enhanced learning to companies. Unfortunately, many corporations seem to be extremely risk averse, and the challenges inherent in the new models seem to be very hard for them to accept. This paper uses the deployment of interactive webcasting systems to present a series of case studies of dissemination successes and failures. We will suggest that the key to successful deployment is in making critical innovation (and its risk) invisible to the client, whilst matching their expectations with an "appropriate" level of technology. This work has led to a new dissemination portal "Prolearn.TV"

The shape of online meetings

Live videoconferencing has become an integral part of international virtual learning and working with professionals, educators and students using online meetings to enhance their collaboration from different parts of the world. This paper explores the visualization of a set of different online meetings produced by the FlashMeeting' videoconferencing system. Our polar area visualization analysis reveals interesting patterns in participant dominance in online meetings: seminars, interviews, moderated project meetings, peer-to-peer meetings, web-casts and video lectures. Visualizing patterns in the use of foreground and background communication channels is a promising way to help us to start to explore individual user roles in different communities and in different meeting types

A Learner-Centred Approach for Lifelong Learning Powered by the Blockchain

The emergence of Blockchain technology promises to revolutionise not only the financial world, but also lifelong learning in many different ways. Blockchain technology offers opportunities to thoroughly rethink how we find educational content and training services online, how we register and pay for them, as well as how we get accredited for what we have learned and how this accreditation affects our career trajectory. This paper explores the different aspects of lifelong learning that are affected by this new paradigm and describes an ecosystem that places the learner at the centre of the learning process and its associated data. More specifically, we outline the ways that ePortfolios, accreditation and tutoring can evolve within this learner-centred ecosystem and we discuss the various benefits that this evolution bears for lifelong learners

Electronically Assisting Communication for Health Professionals

New information and computing technologies offer cost efficient and effective learning opportunities for health care professionals. The Assisted Electronic Communication project is prototyping, administering and evaluating a digital discourse system for health care professionals within an acute Hospital. Health care staff participating in the study are able to access and contribute to threaded, asynchronous discussions and themed information in the context of critical work documents. Early indications are that the system is viewed very positively, and seen as a way of critically engaging with new material that is getting closer to an idealized learning in the workplace

Ambient video awareness: “It’s great, but I still don’t want it”

Video instant messaging tools are not as widely used as we would have predicted and have so far failed to fulfill their promise to become an indispensable tool of social presence, interacting within the workgroup environment and creating a sense of community. Whilst users are becoming comfortable with videoconferencing and software video meetings, the use of video in “awareness” is still very uncommon. Over a 2-year period, we have run 8 discrete Hexagon room studies on naturalistic “ambient video awareness”. Only one of these studies can be considered to be a (limited) success. This paper discusses some of the factors inhibiting the use of such tools in e-learning environments, based on users’ feedback on issues, such as the tool promotion, user interface, size of community and visibility concerns

Technologies for electronically Assisting Nursing Communication

New information and computing technologies promise new virtual learnin g and communication opportunities within the real communities of health care professionals. The Assisted Electronic Communication project has been prototyping , administering and evaluating an integrated digital discourse, webcasting and digital newsletter system, for health care professionals within one such community - an acute UK National Health Service Hospital. The first two of these systems are discussed in this paper. The principal group of health care staff participating in this study were nurses, who were able to access and contribute to threaded, asynchronous discussions and themed information in the context of critical work documents, view and interact with live webcasts by key hospital personnel, and view and submit stories to an online newsletter. The system has been evaluated very positively, and is seen by staff as a way of critically engaging with new material that is getting closer to an idealized vision of learning in the workplace

Colaboración en red a través de videoconferencia: una experiencia no formal

This paper reports on a naturalistic study of peer-to-peer learning, in a live, online-video meeting context. Over a 6-month period a group of international students of animation attended 99 live, online 'study group' meetings, ranging from 90-120 minutes each. Some students emerged as natural mentors, and the group exhibited substantial supportive, mutually facilitative roles. The study shows that the learners can effectively support each other in a live semi-formal peer-learning context. It also provides a clear measure of how simple, live and online video conferencing systems can shape and transform a learning community, even without a formal scaffold of lectures and seminars

Smart Blockchain Badges for Data Science Education

Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionise education in a number of ways. In this paper, we explore the applications of Smart Blockchain Badges on data science education. In particular, we investigate how Smart Blockchain Badges can support learners that want to advance their careers in data science, by offering them personalised recommendations based on their learning achievements. This work aims at enhancing data science accreditation by introducing a robust system based on the Blockchain technology. Learners will benefit from a sophisticated, open and transparent accreditation system, as well as from receiving job recommendations that match their skills and can potentially progress their careers. As a result, this work contributes towards closing the data science skills gap by linking data science education to the industry

Loosely coupled web representations: a REST service and JavaScript wrapper for sharing web-based visual representations

This paper presents the design and application of a web service architecture for providing shared access to web-based visual representations, such as dynamic models, simulations and visualizations. The Shared Representations (SR) system was created to facilitate the development of collaborative and co-operative learning activities over the web, and has been applied to provide shared group access to: a high-resolution image viewer, a virtual petrological microscope, and a forces and motion spring simulation. As well as explaining the architecture and three applications, we briefly present the findings from a user study looking at primary school children’s use of a shared spring simulation. The study findings indicate that shared access to a web-based simulation complements exploratory discussion and enables learners to demonstrate their understanding of a subject. Future work will explore how the system can be combined with dialogic support and embedded in activities to encourage learners with contrasting opinions to discuss and resolve their differing perspectives

Impact of the geriatric patient advocacy and wellness strategy (GeriPAWS) pilot for delirium prevention in acute care surgery patients

Seven million patients experience delirium with on 40% receiving diagnosis in the hospital each year. Prevention strategies have been shown to reduce delirium, improve health outcomes, and decrease hospital costs but are challenging to implement in busy healthcare settings. We aim to implement a volunteer-lead program to reduce delirium, improve patient satisfaction, and increase awareness of delirium in elderly patients