Learning by numbers: trends in collective and collaborative activity on OpenLearn Professor Andy Lane

OpenLearn is … An institution-wide programme; A sub-brand for OU’s open educational media Making some of the OU’s educational materials freely available in a web-based open learning environment; Seeking to advance open educational resource practices by: –Deploying leading-edge learning management tools for learner support; –Encouraging the creation of non-formal collaborative learning communities; –Encouraging other institutions to reuse and rework the content; –Enhancing international research-based knowledge about modern pedagogies for higher education.

OpenLearn’s website architecture makes tracking activity across platforms tricky Long form content for learners Long form content for educators Information and short form content Researcher network External sites YouTubeEDU iTunesU Facebook

Measuring activity Activity on OpenLearn is measured by: –Analytics –Observation –Surveys –Unsolicited s But which activities are collective or collaborative? And are users just information seekers?

Participative tools and technologies External social networking sites add participation LearningSpace and LabSpace feature various tools and technologies that enable in situ user participation: –Profiles –Forums –Learning journals –Learning clubs –Study unit revision and creation

Trends in form posts and journal entries MonthMar 10 Apr 10 May 10 Jun 10 Jul 10 Aug 10 Sep 10 Oct 10 Nov 10 Dec 10 Jan 11 Feb 11 Mar 11 Forum posts Journal entries

Collective and collaborative activity is... Often based around existing ‘communities’ About sharing information and ideas more than doing things Supplements project based activity Gives licence to experiment or enable staff development

The question becomes collaboration by whom for what purpose... To share research and scholarship findings and ideas To share teaching resources To co-develop common resources To enable staff develop within and across institutions