education plaza: supporting teachers' continuing professional development in online communities...
TRANSCRIPT
Education PlazaSupporting teachers’ continuing
professional development in online communities
Tryggvi ThayerProject Manager
University of Iceland
Birgir U. ÁsgeirssonProject Manager
University of Iceland
Context
• Focus on teachers’ continuing professional development– Use of ICT in teaching & learning– Novel teaching methods & classroom practice– Issues relating to specific school subjects– New technologies
How can we use social media to construct dynamic online environments
that support purposeful professional development?
• Dynamic learning environment:– Adapts to learners’ needs– Adapts to change in the environment– Grows with the learning community
• Purposeful professional development:– Is structured– Is intentional– Is based on specific learning outcomes
How I will address this question
• The Education Plaza way:– Partnerships with key stakeholders– Communities of practice (CoPs)– Digital habitats
• Samspil 2015 („Jamming 2015”):– Knowledge building initiative: ICTs in education– Theory to practice
• The take-away: Lessons learned
Education Plaza• Launched January, 2013 as a stakeholder partnership:
• Purpose:– Support communities of practice in education– Strengthen ties between scholarly and practitioner communities
• Projects:– Facilitating dynamic flows of information– Fostering critical and creative dialogue about issues affecting education– Encourage innovative practice in education
University of Iceland – School of Education
Association of Local Authorities
Akureyri University – School of Humanities & Social Sciences
The Icelandic Teachers’ Union
Ministry of Education, Science & Culture
City of Reykjavík – Dept. of Education & Youth
Education Plaza
Theoretical Foundations:Communities of Practice
“Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly” (Wenger, 1998)
– Theory systematically describes what has repeatedly been observed
– Provides a theoretical roadmap for targeted action
Communities of Practice
Digital Habitats:Supporting CoPs online
Putting the theory to practice• Samspil 2015 (“Jamming 2015”)– Learning initiative on ICT in education for
teachers and school leaders.– Teachers at preschool, primary &
secondary/upper-secondary levels– Teachers all over Iceland– Low cost/high impact
What can we do within a CoP framework?
Framing learning needs & goals• Rapid technological and social change raises
questions about learning needs.– How does change affect T&L?– How do educational systems react to change?– How do teachers and school leaders react to change?
• Goals:– Develop capacity in educational community to be
proactive in regards to change.– Foster values and attitudes that promote proactive,
forward-looking knowledge development within communities.
Structure of Samspil 2015:
Monthly themes
Samspil Learning Initiative
Introductoryface-to-face course Webinars
Short instructional videos
Online communities
Leadership seminars
Selection of elective training for individual institutions
Sample of one monthWebinars Self-directed learning Social media Other
Week 1 Webinar 1 Brief video Reading Reflective learning
Week 2 Discussion Reflecting on practice
Week 3 Webinar 2 Brief video Sharing Working with students
Week 4 Brief video
Hrs/month
3 hours 1 hour 1-4 hours 1-4 hours
Shared dialogue, shared practice, shared outcomes
Challenges• Reaching the appropriate audience:
Adapted from Linda McKeown
Challenges• Defining the appropriate subject:
1995
2000 2005
2007
2010
2014
20??
• Keeping learners engaged
Challenges
How I will address this question• Identify communities
– Identify community leaders– Be sensitive to communities’ needs– Reach out to communities where they emerge
• Choose the right tool for the right job– Using existing tools allows communities to build on prior
knowledge/experience• Nurture online identity• Prompt for dialogue
– Focus on timely subject matter– Ensure constructive and positive feedback
• Instructors are active and equal participants in the community
How can we use social media to construct dynamic online environments that support purposeful
professional development?
Thank you!
We look forward to discussing online communities with you further.
Tryggvi [email protected]
Birgir U. Á[email protected]
Education Plazahttp://www.menntamidja.is