olnet.org

Social Learning on OpenLearn

Engaging with Open EducationWikisym 2010, Gdansk 7-9 July

Katarzyna Kozinska, Centre for Research in Education and Educational Technology, Institute of

Educational Technology

OpenLearn

• OER Initiative of The Open University, (OU, UK) supported by The Hewlett Foundation, 2006

• ‘a hybrid of a repository, structured assets, a community, course-based tools, and personal learning tools’.

OpenLearn Research Report 2006-2008 (McAndrew et al., 2009:3)

olnet.org

OpenLearn: LearningSpace

12 main Topics, ca 100 Learning Clubs, hundreds of Course Units

Social learning on OpenLearn

Social learners

• ‘want to explore tools, connect with other people and construct their own interpretations’ OpenLearn Research Report 2006-2008 McAndrew et al. (2009:61)

Actions and activities

• Joining learning clubs

• Contributing to discussions on forums: initiating and/ or responding

• Creating your learner profile/ identity and making it visible to other users (learning units, clubs, role, additional info, profile photo, journal)

• Visible journal entries – reflecting publicly

olnet.org

Motivations for socio-collaborative learning practices on OpenLearn: Examining community interactions among registered users

Core Question:

What motivates registered users to engage in socio-collaborative learning practices on OpenLearn?

To:

– identify the offline and online factors that influence users’ participation

– provide better support, content, tools, spaces

Findings: The purposes of interacting with others (through forums, clubs, profiles, browsing, communicating, observing) on OpenLearn

• Cognitive/ intellectual

• ASK questions,

• GET feedback & information

• ANSWER, give feedback, offer advice, critique, share opinions

• GET USED to the system

• REMAIN INTELLECTUALLY ACTIVE

• Social/ emotional/ affective

• CONNECT with ‘similar’ people, get & give support, share fears, ambitions, goals, introducing, encouragement,

• GAIN INSIGHT into what others are feeling, thinking, get ideas, share experiences, observe ‘attitudes’

• GET AWAY FROM THE ISOLATION of ODL context

• FIND OUT who the people are who posted interesting things/ replied to our posts

olnet.org

Factors that influence interactions

• Tools, forums, profiles, journals - availability, visibility, ease, clarity, support

• Other users – interest, reciprocity, e.g. evolving in roles gradually; feedback, recognition

• Values, experiences - appreciation of learning, belief in importance of communication; background

Motivation by:

• Knowledge, curiosity, recognition, altruism, enjoyment, self-expression, change, new experiences, challenge

olnet.org

Why research the topic?World 2010 and Future Forecasts (OECD 2008, 2009; UNESCO, 1999; NIACE, 2009)

• Social justice and lifelong learning

• Demographic changes – Ageing Workforce – Migrating Masses – Digital Divide– Poverty - Diversity

• Opportunities vs. exclusion

• Solution? Dialogue, awareness = > provide tools and spaces on OER that will enable & promote communication collaboration and connecting within networks of learners, development of skills, not just content

Image: maistora, 2008, source: Flickr

maistora, 2008, source: Flickr

References:

• McAndrew, P., Santos, A., Lane, A., Godwin, S., Okada, A., Wilson, T., Connolly, T., Ferreira, G., Buckingham Shum, S., Bretts, J. and Webb, R. (2009) OpenLearn Research Report 2006-2008. Milton Keynes, England: The Open University.

• OECD CERI (2008) Higher Education to 2030. Volume I. Demography. Available from: <http://browse.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/pdfs/browseit/9608021E.PDF>

• OECD CERI (2009) Higher Education to 2030. Volume II. Globalisation. Available from: <http://browse.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/pdfs/browseit/9609041E.PDF>

• Schuller, T., Watson, D. (2009) Learning Through Life. Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning. Summary. Leicester, United Kingdom: NIACE.

• The Open University (2010) OpenLearn. LearningSpace. Available from: <http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/home.php>

• United Nations (1999) The World at Six Billion. Available from: <http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/sixbillion/sixbilpart1.pdf>

olnet.org