Teaching and Learning with Technology: Building Communities of Learners Presented By: Melissa Anderson, Senior Pedagogical Advisor Adrian Alleyne September 28, 2005

Session Goals & Agenda Goal: Present strategies for building and fostering communities of learners within the Blackboard environment Agenda: Present value of communities Discuss Networked Learning Environment (NLE) Define Communities of Learners and Practice Share & Discuss Client Best Practices for Fostering Communities

Fostering Learning Communities Most institutions and faculties are beginning to realize the power behind fostering communities of learners and communities of practice because they provide students and instructors with an opportunity to: Connect in-class and out-of-class activities to their larger academic experience or professional environment Learn from one another in a collaborative and supportive environment Situate their learning in a real, practical setting Participate in a networked learning environment that extends far into the community Develop strong ties and affiliation to the discipline, institution and community This allows for the creation of a Networked Learning Environment™.

The Networked Learning Environment

Defining Communities Community of Practice (CoP): “Groups of people informally bound together by shared expertise and passion for a ‘joint enterprise’” -Wenger & Snyder, 2000 Needs tools, artifacts and flexibility of movement within the CoP Defined by knowledge, not task Community of Learners Groups of people coming together to learn and develop knowledge. Can be defined by task Can be formally constructed

Organic/Grassroots Efforts: Establishing Communities Step 1:Creating the Capacity for Generating Knowledge A group of professionals, informally bound to one another through exposure to a common class of problems, common pursuit of solutions, and thereby themselves embodying a store of knowledge. –Peter & Trudy Johnson-Lenz, Awakening TechnologyAwakening Technology Step 2: Sharing Knowledge Internal & External to the Community More than a "community of learners," a community of practice is also a "community that learns." Not merely peers exchanging ideas around the water cooler, sharing and benefiting from each other's expertise, but colleagues committed to jointly develop better practices. –George Pór, Community Intelligence LabsCommunity Intelligence Labs

Strategies for Success Fostering a Community of Learners Allow for participants to be novices, experts and every stage in- between; participation should be free-flowing Capitalize on already established community success, building upon past structure and engagement opportunities Provide appropriate tools and mechanisms for generating, storing and accessing community artifacts Recognize communities in the broader decision making and consensus building of the institution Identify leaders whom are closely tied to the passion of the community and encourage them through varying incentives to cultivate that passion Remember that productivity is in the eye of the beholder (the community itself)

Strategies for Success Supporting a Community of Learners with Blackboard Create a personalized, role-based experience for students upon entry into the online academic space Foster the online presence of community sub-groups, like organizations or working groups Allow key participants to directly manage their information and facilitate associated collaborative activities- encourage the delegation of responsibilities Build a learning object catalog for all members of the community to contribute to and utilize Provide mentoring opportunities for students by connecting them with the community in a central, focused location Establish communication at all levels, with all groups, and through all channels to encourage knowledge sharing

Questions & Discussion Melissa Anderson Senior Pedagogical Advisor