Frances Long: Australia Flexible Networks May 26,

Who are we? School Teachers University professors College Instructors Employment counsellors/career practitioners

Where we come from….

Knowplace Environment Seldom see each other (if ever) Rarely hear voices Very few photos We talk through typed words

Knowplace Environment Committed to…. Open Source programs Freeware tools Working with formal and informal partnerships

Knowplace Communication Asynchronous = Discussions in delayed time Synchronous = Discussions in real time

Asynchronous Communication Moodle for discussions Bloglines for projects

Synchronous Chat programs Time Zones Are Important!

Synchronous Rooms Time Zones Are Important!

How Do We Use Moodle?

People enter, meet and talk… People enter, meet and talk Open knowplace CapCollege & knowplace Partnership Our Partners Communities Online Conferences KnowWEEKS

1/5 Open knowplace What are they? Free and open weekends about a variety of topics hosted by Knowmates, knowmads, our colleagues and online friends People give back to knowplace by sharing their own skills to host an open weekend Offered primarily… in asynchronous mode Topics change every week and every month

1/5 Open knowplace Our Requirements An easy way for people to join the weekends (no time from us); Keep track of who joined which weekend; Train and support weekend moderators easily; Advertise the activities easily

1/5 Open knowplace How do we use Moodle? Calendar Block (visible to guests) New Events Block (visible to guests) Course Descriptions, dates (visible to guests) Open a course shell for the facilitator Set an enrolment key so that the facilitator can prepare course in safety Remove key when weekend opens and place it again when course over Re-use some courses (eg: change dates)

1/5 Open knowplace How do we use Moodle? Calendar Block (visible to guests) New Events Block (visible to guests) Course Descriptions, dates (visible to guests) Open a course shell for the facilitator Set an enrolment key so that the facilitator can prepare course in safety Remove key when weekend opens and place it again when course over Re-use some courses (eg: change dates)

2/5 KnowWEEKS What are they? Cost money for knowmates to take Expert International knowmates host Week- long discussions about areas of interest to “working online”

2/5 KnowWEEKS Our Requirements An easy way for people to join the weekends (no time from us); Track participants; Take money; Train and support weekend moderators easily; Advertise the activities easily

2/5 KnowWEEKS How do we use Moodle? Calendar Block (visible to guests) New Events Block (visible to guests) Course Descriptions, dates (visible to guests) Open a course shell for the facilitator Set an enrolment key so that the facilitator can prepare course in safety Use paypal Move people into course after payment Re-use some courses (eg: change dates)

3/5 Partners Communities What are they? Formal and Informal partnerships with a variety of online organizations Some are in Knowplace, and some have their own site that we support Some permit us to use their tools and services to support and add function to knowplace

3/5 Partners Communities How Do We Use Moodle? Some are in Knowplace: Own private area for their members We support them and their members with any technical problems Some have their own site that we support: Provide administrative and technical services

4/5Capilano College Certificate Programs Open Source Technical Support Open Source eCourse Design Open Source eModerator eTeach eCareer Coach eCourse Design eModerator Mixed Mode What…? In development: Create an online business

4/.5Capilano College Program Structure Everyone takes our first course: Explore Communication Tools introduces them to the online learning culture and communication tools used in knowplace before moving into our programs.

4/5 Capilano College Program Structure Consists of 9 two-week long courses The courses are rotated and offered every five months Required courses overlap between each certificate program Our knowmates often take more than one certificate program at a time

4/5 Capilano College Program Structure How do we use Moodle? For our courses For our knowmates applied project work

5/5 Online Conferences Knowmates conceived, planned and hosted our first annual knowTIPS conference (offered every February): Knowplace will be hosting an online Moodle Moot Canada conference in October 2005

Knowplace Moodle We Use…. To talk to each other: discussion forums, chat For Group projects: wiki, dialogue For Personal reflections: Journal, personal forums For Content: Resources, Book Activity Modules

Your Moodle Group YOUR TOOLS Blocks (what’s on the sides?) Activities (forums, polls, books etc) Resources (links to webpages,files etc) You Can DO what you want!

Your Moodle Group

A group is more than tools, you create a home for people to feel safe in, cherished and cared about

Questions? Contact: Frances Long: Come Visit Us: