Post on 01-Apr-2015
Ideall
y,A Virtual Learning Commons should be an
active and dynamic
extension of the Physical Learning
Commons.
Question: What does/should this mean?
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A VLC is: an active, interactive, dynamic, and collaborative learning space
an “instead of” or a replacement for a physical learning commons
http://bit.ly/1lEm
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p://bit.ly/1dux6ex Ged Carroll
http://bit.ly/NaWAIZ Unfortunate Bystander
Unfortunately and all too
often…this is what kind of extension it ends up becoming.
Why??? What needs to change?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plugusin/8436966772/ William Ferriiter
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plugusin/9223386478/
Goals of a (Virtual) Learning Commons
• Innovation• Collaboration• Exploration• Critical
Thinking• Digital
Literacy• Multiple
Literacies
• Social versus Single Direction information
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/plugusin/8612735435/
http://bit.ly/1g81D6q zzpza
• A place for tools and tutorials including those created by staff and students
To Consider when Designing a VLC:
Student made video from Western Canada HS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p219FyojYWg&feature=youtu.be
http://keelercommons.weebly.com/imovie.html#/
Tools/Tutorials
• Collaborative reading centers and initiatives in support of school improvement and literacy goals
http://bit.ly/1lMQ61Z Mark Hillary
Mission High School VLC http://bit.ly/1jmLTQT
Users post for others to view
• The center of school culture (showcase)• The virtual school yearbook• Collaborative construction of all kinds of lists,
projects, etc.
http://bit.ly/1m0u8ZB kjarrett
Professional development in the VLC
http://keelercommons.weebly.com/professional-development.html
• Connections to all types of libraries, system resources and community agencies
• Connection to an OPAC that is collaborative (i.e. CBE Library [Webcat] or CCSD’s Destiny)
• Connections to databases and other resources where everyone is helping find and recommend the best
LearnAlberta.ca & theOnline Reference Centre (ORC)
CORE Resources(Video, lessons, activities, games, etc.)
Current events (local, global, school and community based) and an area for commenting / engaging. Consider a news feed, Twitter feeds, school calendars, etc.
Activities that draw kids and adults to the VLC and LC and school
• Connections beyond the school to the community and on into the world
• Connections to experts of all kinds
• School-wide projects (inquiry)http://bit.ly/1aTIFRO Mishel Chirken
https://sites.google.com/site/stampedegrade4socialstudies/
• The center of the curriculum and teacher's learning activities and programs; courses, etc.
Items adapted from: http://www.schoollearningcommons.info/the-virtual-learning-commons
• Use of Collaborative tools and shared cloud computing
e.g. Google Apps for Education• Drive• Google Sites• Forms, Calendar, Groups• Spreadsheets, etc.
Can you think of other items/ideas/sections that would suit a VLC in your setting?
Question – who should be involved in the creation and maintenance of the VLC?
Answer – Many people!
Avoid bottlenecks and stagnant sites!
• Decide format as a team and then get individual(s) with know-how to execute design
• Have more than one person with access for updates • Include many spaces where students can post and
participate (i.e. forums, wikis, blogs, etc.).• Have students create content and take ownership too
Avoid
Foster
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Digital and Information
Literacy
Digital Citizenship
Research Skills
Literacy & Numeracy Competencies
http://bit.ly/1buOlwH Doug Belshaw
Necessary Skills…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plugusin/8612729409/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plugusin/5696272136/ William Ferriter
Digital Curation
i.e. Scoop.it! or Pinterest
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plugusin/9207086067/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plugusin/11410157813/
Discuss…. Ponder…
• What can you do next?
• What are you already doing?
• What needs tweaking?
• First steps?
http://bit.ly/1iAq5xG lovelorn poet
Resources
Presented by:
Erin Hansen & Dan Tinaburri
Twitter: @hansenep @geekteacher
Resource Website: http://uncommonlearningcommons.weebly.com/
• Most ideas presented are in alignment with/adapted from Loertscher, Koechlin, Zwaan & Rosenfeld: http://www.schoollearningcommons.info http://www.schoollearningcommons.info/the-virtual-learning-commons
• and Gino Bondi, VSB District Principal of Specialty Programs http://learningthenow.com/blog/?p=2222