aborisade creating innovative learning spaces

CREATING INNOVATIVE LEARNING SPACES: ‘WIKI-ING’ OUR WAY TO E-LEARNING IN FUTA

Peter A. AborisadeGeneral Studies UnitFederal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

Context

FUTA is some 10,000 students; c. ¼ are fresh students

LT in Large class situation - (Coleman, 1989; LoCastro, 2001);

Setting: class structure, time-tabling, teachers v students

EAP necessity: EST; lack of motivation

Low teacher & student ICT access, ability; high interestE-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal

2May 2009

From F2F teacher-centred classroom … Teacher as source of knowledge Teacher talk time Teacher as dictator Students passive consumers Mute voices Rote learning - “Le cram, la pour”

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To … Blended student-centred learning spaces …

Teacher facilitates … Curriculum design Group building Activity/task setting Materials selection

Monitors … Team work Task/activity

E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal4May 2009

Blended Student-centred philosophy

CLT: process-product, problem-solution (Dudley-Evans, 1984; Hopkins, 1988; Bloor and St John,1988; Hyland and Hyland, 1992)

Task-based (Hyland and Hyland, 1992)Interactional (Candlin, 1987)Socio-cultural, constructivist: learning in

social context (Vygotsky, 1978)Technology as tool (Beatty, 2003; Dudeney &

Hockly, 2007)E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal

5May 2009

Technology Support

Using the Wiki as collaborative learning tool in large classes:

to support & stimulate learning Encourage students to make

effective use of ICT in academic work Provide meaningful activities that

foster autonomy and collaboration

E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 6May 2009

Learning Spaces

Large Classrooms or lecture theatres

Out of class group working spaces

Online group working spaces

Online individual writing/editing on group pages

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FUTA Model

Socio-cultural, constructivist :

F2F +

Online using Web 2.0 collaborative Wiki=

BLENDED LEARNING

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http://futagns.pbwiki.com

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Processes

Teachers StudentsTD meetings; ICT

educationSupervise group

building

Set up student group pages

Upload student listsFacilitate team bonding

Preparation for ICT learning skills

Assignment of group roles

Upload roles, emails on group pages

Access tasks/activities, attach answers to pages

E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal13May 2009

Processes

Teachers Students Upload tasks/activities Monitor team work

on group pages Post comments on

activities Track and Assess

group activities

Put up aspects of term paper, outline on page

Edit, add to group work

Post comments on other groups’ pages

Post reflective comments on front page

E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal14May 2009

Outcomes

Students are able to write term papers (academic genre) after investigation of issues

Students’ ICT skills improved Students use the computer and

internet for academic purposes Students interact more in L2

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Students’ views (Wiki front page)

E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 16

the site is informative and educative........ this is great.....ideas rules the world..

May 2009

Students’ views (Wiki front page)

E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 17

A very demanding course, interesting and educative,

though. This session's quite different. Got virtually all

100L students working real hard on the term paper. Its also an insight into writing

reports and projects.

May 2009

Students’ views (Wiki front page)

E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 18

This course affords students the rare opportunity of team work experience on the world wide web. I think its the beginning of better days ahead for Nigerian student if innovations as these are imbibed in our academic culture. Its simply wonderful!

May 2009

Challenges

Great expectations for all, from all! ICT infrastructure ‘Inadequate’ learning technologists Technology support uptake by faculty Pedagogy Technology vendors Assessment matters

E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal19May 2009

Web 2.0 Tool

Very useful tool Simple to learn/use Fosters collaboration No longer free, except for small

groups … but there are others … We all should try it

E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 20May 2009

E N D!

THANK YOU ALLE-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 21May 2009