Topic 3: learning in communities-networked collaborative learning

 

Blog for week 3

Topic 3: Learning in communities – networked collaborative learning

In this third topic, we will explore aspects of collaborative learning in relation to networked online spaces for learning. To interact and learn together with peers in different formats have become an integral part of student centered education. Technology offers new possibilities for interaction and forming new kinds of social networks, including learners as well as facilitators and experts – but also offers challenges, such as keeping focus on learning processes, not tools, in online environments. You will be encouraged to reflect on the meaning of networked collaborative learning and the development of learning communities in relation to PBL and building personal learning networks and environments for peer support and your informal learning

 

This week focuses on collaborative learning in communities and explored the difference between collaboration and corporation. Teaching in the virtual communities is a science aa well as an art, one need to understand the learners ( culture/ interest / tech savviness ) in order to engage them in sharing with trust, freewill and a unified goal. 

One of the things we practiced was answering by asking questions and this has a reflective component, making one think , reflect before committing to an answer.

Telling a story is a strong way to engage learners and to get information across. The team reflected on one such journeys on teaching in the community, on the challenges brought on by the pandemic ( a challenge that permeate social/ education and other arenas of social functioning).

The other areas need consideration is the culture and local practice. There are things we take for granted like continuing source of electricity and internet , hardware availability and infrastructure may not be available in certain communities when we do communities learning across geographical boundaries.  In the group session , we took turns to talk about how we feel and also respect individual spaces. 

Some collaboration especially research is limited by intellectual property and confidentiality. Learning in communities increase the richness of learning by incorporating learners view from various communities and keep both learners and teachers engage via various social network portal