Community Based Software Development – the Case of Movelex Andrea Kárpáti Kornél Varga ELTE, Budapest EC-TEL 2006 Conference Workshop Communities of Practice

Movelex: a complex virtual learning environment (VLE) Shared knowledge building space with a special network technology Supports self-regulated learning Six years test at different educational contexts Its digital content repository contains about 8000 tasks and a lexicon of 7000 items About 300 teachers have been trained, and 100 of them take an active part in the development of the Movelex repository and tools.

Main goal of the MOVELEX VLE: To support self-regulated learning and developmental assessment through ICT solutions Learning materials for individualised instruction need local adaptation and development Tools for software development by teachers should be simple to use and flexible to adapt Integration: materials should finally create a coherent set of teaching aids through a co- evolutionary developmental process Self-regulated learning involves the active participation of students in the developmental process

The system is adaptive on multiple levels The material can be classified for “novice”, „intermediate learner” or “expert” Based on the results of the tests learning can be slowed down through repetitive exercises or accelerated through the omission of well-acquired parts The material can be adjusted to the different needs of schools and classes

Use of animations and images with captions The central idea of the VLE is visualisation using the MOVELEX animator (drawing) component Simplest form is to insert words on an image A photograph may be animated as easily as you move a Barbie doll To create more sophisticated drawings and animations needs advanced skills The optimal use of this function is through pair or group work Captions can be used as assessement

Pilot projects with the Movelex VLE We organize courses to teach teachers for construction of new digital learning materials in groups Students will make animations – mentored by teachers Special mathematical project The Movelex Presenter can be downloaded:

Usual e-learning development

In the Movelex-model the different groups communicate through a 2-level system of shared objects:

Building Communities of Practice on multiple levels Basic level development is done in local groups using a word processor Group work for designers on advanced level in a special networked mode The integrated database of LO-s is offered for testing to the final users At advanced level, this response system works as an integrated shared space, as group members can reflect even on each-other’s remarks

Movelex as a realization of trialogical learning principle Definition of trialogical learning (see the website of KP- Lab project: „Those forms of learning where learners are collaboratively developing, transforming, or creating shared objects of activity (such as conceptual artefacts, practices, products) in a systematic fashion. Trialogical learning concentrates on the interaction through these common objects (or artefacts) of activity, not just between people ("dialogical approach"), or within one’s mind ("monological" approach).”

Thank you for your attention! Kornél Varga Co-author: Andrea Kárpáti ELTE, Budapest