Trajectories of e-learning: theory and methodology explore

Gráinne ConoleUniversity of Leicester

18thApril 2013

National Teaching Fellow 2012

Outline

• The technological context• Research complex online

interactions• Approaches– Social Network Analysis– Actor Network Theory

• Learning design– Activity Theory– Design-Based Research– Community Indicator Framework

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http://scienceoftheinvisible.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-ramble-through-history-of-online.htmlhttp://halfanhour.blogspot.be/2012/02/e-learning-generations.html

Lear

ning

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ects

94

Technological trends

• Mobiles and e-books• Personalised learning• Cloud computing• Ubiquitous learning• BYOD (Bring your own device)• Technology-Enhanced

learning spaces• Learning analytics

The MATEL study

• Productivity and creativity• Networked collaboration• Content creation• Visualisation and simulation• Learning Management Systems• Learning environment• Games• Devices, interfaces and

connectivity

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfryer/462376660/

http://www.menon.org/matel/

Game changers

• Harnessing the power of new media

• Need to rethink education• Key questions

– How can we reach more learners, more effectively?

– What is the impact of free resources, tools and expertise?

– What new business models are emerging?

– What new digital literacies are needed?

http://www.educause.edu/game-changers

Emergent technologies and affordances

Resources, OER and Pedagogical Patterns

The e-learning landscape

E-pe

dago

gies

, str

ateg

ies

and

lear

ning

des

ign

Interventions

Theo

ry a

nd m

etho

dolo

gy

Evaluations

MOOCS

www.evolllution.com/distance_online_learning/massive-open-online-learning-creativity-and-competency/

Helen Keegan

What is needed in a world of new and proliferating e-

learning practices are research approaches that are multiple and varied and that

recognise their heterogeneity explicitly. (Friesen, 2009)

From Web pages and forums to complex online

interactions

Themes

• Complex, disruptive, evolving• More open

practices• Distributed,

networked

Social Network Analysis

OER communities• 7 in-depth case studies• Articulate the nature of the OER communities

and the patterns of user behaviour• Using the LOOK SNA tool• Relationships between individuals and themes

Actor Network Theory (ANT) • Humans and tool equal• Good for describing networks

Learning design

• Activity Theory• Design-Based Research• Community Indicators

Framework

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcoutas/4996881007/

The Larnaca Declaration,Sept 2012

Socio-cultural perspectives

Other teachers and learners can use or repurpose

Vygotsky, Activity Theory

Research questionsWhat Mediating Artefacts do teachers use?What Mediating Artefacts can we create to guide the design process?

DesignHas an inherent

Teacher

Learning activityor Resource

Creates

Mediating Artefacts (MA)

Design Mediating ArtefactsConceptsToolsDialoguesActivities

Teacher

Learning activityor Resource

Creates

Mediating Artefacts (MA)

CommunityDivision of

labourRules

Analysis: Activity Theory

Design and learning occur within a context

Design-Based Research

A systematic, but flexible methodology aimed to improve educational practice through iterative analysis, design, development and implementation, based on collaboration between researchers and practitioners in real-world settings, and leading to contextually-sensitive design principles and theories.

Wang and Hannafin, 2005

• Means of dealing with real learning contexts• Iterative: design, implementation, evaluation, refine• Gives rich insights into complex dynamics

Benefits

• Means of dealing with real learning contexts

• Iterative: design, implementation, evaluation, refine

• Gives rich insights into complex dynamics

Facets

• Make assumptions and theoretical bases explicit• Collect multiple types of data• Conduct ongoing data analysis• Invite multiple voices to critique• Have multiple accountability structures• Engage in dialectic among theory, design and

extant literature

Barab, 2006

DBR and Learning Design

• Builds on theory & prior research

• Pragmatic• Collaborative• Contextual• Integrative• Iterative – problem,

solution, evaluation• Adaptive and flexible• Generalisation

• Builds on ID, OER, Ped Patterns research etc.

• Practical tools & resources• Work with practitioners• Real, authentic contexts• Mixed-method approach• Problem, implementation,

evaluation and refinement• Agile, based on practice• Coherent LD framework

Problem and solution

• Teachers want – Help with design– Ways to represent

designs• Solution– Design representations to

guide and make design explicit

Problem and solution

• Teachers want – Examples of good

practice– Others to talk to

• Solution– Social networking site– Best of web 2.0– Iterative design and

evaluation

http://cloudworks.ac.uk

Vision

Technical interventions

Evolving: socio-technical co-evolution

Social interventions

Beta release RSS feeds, activity streams

Events listing, voting, favourites, etc

Content seeding

Event support, flash debates

Open reviews, expert consultation

Evaluation

Interactions and Communities

• Interactions– Type– Time– Location

• Communities

http://www.slideshare.net/GrainneConolehttp://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/beyond-distance-research-alliance

grainne.conole@le.ac.ukhttp://e4innovation.com