Developing an Online Learning Community

for Educational Technology Leaders: A Mixed Methods Study

Developing an Online Learning Community

for Educational Technology Leaders: A Mixed Methods Study

Jon M. Bellum

Sandy Lathem

University of Vermont

Jon M. Bellum

Sandy Lathem

University of Vermont

VTcite.org OriginsVTcite.org Origins

Vermont Commons for Information Technology Educators

Organized by two state non-profits & University of Vermont

Funded through Title IID state-wide grant Included 30 state educational technology

leaders

Vermont Commons for Information Technology Educators

Organized by two state non-profits & University of Vermont

Funded through Title IID state-wide grant Included 30 state educational technology

leaders

Purpose of VTcitePurpose of VTcite

1. Collect & develop resources to help technology planning

2. Provide strategies for professional development with technology

3. Build a strong catalog of content-based technology resources to meet state standards

1. Collect & develop resources to help technology planning

2. Provide strategies for professional development with technology

3. Build a strong catalog of content-based technology resources to meet state standards

The ToolThe ToolUses Drupal - open-source content management

System (www.drupal.org)

Uses Drupal - open-source content management

System (www.drupal.org)

Communities of PracticeCommunities of Practice

Educational origins in Carmichael (1982), Fullan (1993), Astuto, et al. (1993) and in organizational theory in Senge (2000)

“groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis” Wenger, McDermott and Snyder(2002)

Educational origins in Carmichael (1982), Fullan (1993), Astuto, et al. (1993) and in organizational theory in Senge (2000)

“groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis” Wenger, McDermott and Snyder(2002)

Online Communities of Practice

Online Communities of Practice

Four levels of online community Henry & Pudelko (2003) Four levels of online community Henry & Pudelko (2003)

Cohesion

Inte

ntio

nal

Community of interest

Goal-Oriented Community of interest

Learners’ Community

Community of Practice

The StudyThe Study

1. Explored how the VTCite project supported the transformation of a goal-oriented community of educational technology educators into a state-wide community of practice;

2. Describes how the design of an open-source content management system facilitates professional learning communities to overcome geographical and professional isolation;

1. Explored how the VTCite project supported the transformation of a goal-oriented community of educational technology educators into a state-wide community of practice;

2. Describes how the design of an open-source content management system facilitates professional learning communities to overcome geographical and professional isolation;

MethodologyMethodology

Parallel mixed methods study Tashakkori & Teddlie (1998)

Parallel mixed methods study Tashakkori & Teddlie (1998)

Online Survey(quantitative)

Analysis of Blogs(qualitative)

Convergence

Data were converged in the final analysis where instances of agreement and disagreement were identified between the quantitative and qualitative data (Creswell, 2003)

Findings (quantitative)Findings (quantitative)

Online Learning Communities (n=19)Online Learning Communities (n=19)

Organized by frequency(percent) Strongly Agree

Agree Disa gre e Strongly Disa gre e

Online learning co mmunitie s can take the place of fa ce-to-fac e learning co mmunities.

3(15.8) 2(10.5) 11(57.9) 3(15.8)

Online learning co mmunitie s can be suitable repla ce ments to face-to-face lea rning com munitie s in areas wher e geo g raphy im pede s mee ting face-to-face

5(26.3) 9(47.4) 5(26.3) 0

Online learning co mmunitie s eas e time rest raints found i n fac e-to-face interaction s

10(52.6) 8(42.1) 1(5.3) 0

Face-to-face me eting s are neces sary for VTcite to continue to de velop

10(52.6) 8(42.1) 0 1(5.3)

Findings (quantitative)Findings (quantitative)

Online Tools (n=19)Online Tools (n=19)

Organized by frequency (percent) Strongly Agree

Agree Disa gre e Strongly Disa gre e

Online inte ract ion s uc h as di scus sion boards, wikis, and blogs as well as face-to-face meet ing s are now a neces sary part of any le arning community.

9(47.4) 8(42.1) 2(10.5) 0

Online too ls can prov ide the s upport neces sary to develop and g uide an onl ine lea rning com munity

13(68.4) 6(31.6) 0 0

Blogg ing is important for dev elop ing an online learning community

5(26.3) 13(68.4) 1(5.3) 0

Forums are imp ortant for dev elop ing an online learning community

13(68.4) 6(31.6) 0 0

Email is imp ortant for dev elop ing an online lea rning com munity

10(52.6) 7(36.8) 2(10.5) 0

Findings (qualitative)Findings (qualitative) 10 of 30 participant blogs analyzed looking for

emergent themes using Nvivo Three themes emerged within the general concept

of community evolution

10 of 30 participant blogs analyzed looking for emergent themes using Nvivo

Three themes emerged within the general concept of community evolution

Community EvolutionCommunity Evolution

PersonalPersonal CourseCourse Community as Community as wholewhole

Findings (qualitative)Findings (qualitative)Themes Personal

Participants expressed excitement Caused them to reflect

Course Expressed frustration with course structure but understood

the need for common language Community as Whole

Even with other distractions felt they did build a community though in its infancy “Whatever the final outcome… for VTcite to be successful, it will need continued support of those with the ‘fire in their bellies’”

Themes Personal

Participants expressed excitement Caused them to reflect

Course Expressed frustration with course structure but understood

the need for common language Community as Whole

Even with other distractions felt they did build a community though in its infancy “Whatever the final outcome… for VTcite to be successful, it will need continued support of those with the ‘fire in their bellies’”

DiscussionDiscussion

Community Evolution Core vision was never fully developed

Course vs. Community Structure The course distracted from the development of

community, but community helped the course

Online Communities of Practice They feel COPs need technology but they also

need face-to-face meetings

Community Evolution Core vision was never fully developed

Course vs. Community Structure The course distracted from the development of

community, but community helped the course

Online Communities of Practice They feel COPs need technology but they also

need face-to-face meetings

Next StepsNext Steps

VTcite has been funded for Phase II (2007-2008)

15-20 Phase I participants will facilitate up to 50 new participants

More emphasis on community, then professional development

Will have a regional flavor with face-to-face meetings supported by the technology

Site will continue to be developed and new community administrators will be trained

VTcite has been funded for Phase II (2007-2008)

15-20 Phase I participants will facilitate up to 50 new participants

More emphasis on community, then professional development

Will have a regional flavor with face-to-face meetings supported by the technology

Site will continue to be developed and new community administrators will be trained