Building Virtual Partnerships: What works? What doesn’t? Frances Long & Helen Kershaw Session #34 BCED Online Conference

This series of slides is an overview of Session #34 Monday April 19 Blundell 10:30

Knowplace Philosophy Knowplace Constructivism Knowplace was built and continues to develop using the Constructivism approach to teaching and learning. Learning is a social activity Discuss, share and learn together Time to learn, reflect and revisit an idea

Inside the knowplace Community Knowmads: behind and in front of goings on Knowmates: eg: Capilano College students Partners: paying clients for “the kind support of her Knowmates' Learning Community at KnowPlace” suedumont.ca Equal Partners: the delivery and operation of the courses

Relationship First Partnership Second See where the students walk, then build the concrete sidewalks Ken Hughes, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, Capilano College, 1973

Knowplace Virtual Partnerships What? Learning community Who? Educators, coaches, moderators, course designers, technical aficionados Where? Online : asynchronous and synchronous Why? Share knowledge, build on each others strengths, mutual support How? Use freeware tools and open source environments to communicate with each other and our colleagues

What constitutes a partnership? “an arrangement between two or more parties who have agreed to work cooperatively toward shared and/or compatible objectives and in which there is: shared authority and responsibility; Joint investment of resources; Shared liability or risk taking; and ideally, Mutual benefits.” (Rodal & Mulder 1993:28).

In other words…. Wonderful work in wonderful ways… Wonderful service for wonderful pay…

Types of Partnerships Collaborative Technical support Collegial

Collaborative

Knowplace Partnerships Informal Relationships: Individuals Graduate students Public/Private Private/Private Formal partnerships: Public/Private Private/Private

Partnership Analysis Knowmates Public & Private Partners Research Collaboration Open Source Converts & Ambassadors

Knowmates Why? Safe environment Ideas are of value to others Enjoy learning and sharing together Internal and External rewards What? Information, Object and course exchange How? Instant messaging (1-1 and 1-many) Asynchronous discussion forums Shared project pages Knowmates Mailing List KnowNEWS

Formal Public Partnerships Why? Share common beliefs/values Build on each others strengths What? Technical Support to clients and partner Technical Hosting Equal commitment: financial, human,facilitities How? Voice Instant message Who? Capilano College SD 28, 20 Universidad de Guadalajara

Formal Private Partnerships Why? Share common beliefs/values Build on each others strengths What? Technical Hosting Technical Support for clients and business How? Instant messaging Asynchronous discussion forums Voice Who? Life Strategies suedumont.ca

Research Collaboration Why? Contructivism Knowledge/results are shared Enjoy learning and sharing together What? Cultural Differences online Transferring skills online How? Asynchronous discussion forums to gather information and disseminate findings Shared project pages Reports for the community

Open Source Converts and Ambassadors Why? Mutual support and common values Safe environment to exchange information Enjoy learning, sharing and helping each other What? Information, Object and course exchange How? Instant messaging (1-1 and 1-many) Asynchronous discussion forums Shared projects Mailing Lists

Structural Issues To continue to grow a healthy online learning community for our partners we must provide: Mentoring ePeer co-ordination, training and support Commit to regular online availability Honesty Safe environment to ask questions

Course Design Partnership Example Issues for consideration: beta testing, learning objects, low bandwidth virtual partnership assets Technologies to consider for implementation: webcasts Synchronous communication Asynchronous communication

Course Design Methodologies Issues for consideration: beta testing, learning objects, low bandwidth virtual partnership assets Technologies to consider for implementation: webcasts Synchronous communication Asynchronous communication

Issues Strengths & Advantages Use each partners strength/expertise Shared resources Stable environment Inproved marketability Weaknesses & Disadvantages Cross over of priorities Duplication Possible increased costs Inequity in partnership balance

Our Public/Private Partnership Capilano College and Knowplace offer: … a series of Certificate Programs in three areas directly related to Online Teaching Teach and Design Online Certificate Program Focus on the skills of course design and delivery. Open Source Certificate Program Focus is on the technical aspects of online course delivery. LAMP Specialized Certificate Programs eModerator eCareerCoach There are 8 certificate programs offered under these 3 headings.

Program Details Capilano College is in a public/ private partnership with our business Knowplace and together we offer eight separate online certificate programs. Each program is composed of nine short intensive two week courses that can be taken as stand alone courses or linked together to form the requirements for a certificate program. All of our courses are offered in an open source environment. Freeware and open source alternatives underpin our offerings. Our class sizes are small and we match ementors and epeers with our new certificate participants. Working on the Internet is very individualized and we are able to tailor the programs to meet specific learning needs. We work seven days a week, and suggest that our participants check in several times throughout the day in order to be successful. You'll note that there is quite a bit of overlap between our courses, this approach permits our participants to meet the requirements for two or three certificate programs at once. Explore Communication Tools Each of our certificates begin with the same very intensive course: Explore Communication Tools which begins on the first Monday of every month. This course we teach people how to use instant messaging techniques, use webcams and voice to communicate with others. We explore various asynchronous and synchronous learning communities and learn how to use them. Depending on the skills that people bring with them, this course can take hours per week for two weeks.

Invitation to KnowplaceKnowplace If you would like to take a tour – please visit and have a look around. Click on the Knowplace link enter as a guest ‘curious about us?’ and select “All Courses”. further information? Frances Long