Learning beyond the classroom

University of Colombo School of Computing

Prof. Gihan Wikramanayake

Overview

• Changes due to Technology

• Virtual Learning Environments

• Continuing Professional Development

• Informal Learning

• Learning Tools

• Conclusion

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Changes due to Technology• Society Changes through Technology

– We do things differently

e.g. Online purchasing Check-in machine

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Changes in Education

• Chalk & blackboards

• Electronic presentations

• Smart boards.

Teaching

Learning

Lectures and Other One-Way Delivery Systems

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Paradigm Shift to Networked Learning

• New way of thinking about teaching and learning• teacher - learner relationship

• Learner• centered learning based on constructivism and socio-

constructivism

• Process of learning• problem solving, critical thinking

• Hypertext & hypermedia

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Paradigm Shift to Networked Learning

• Learner interdependence / collaborative learning

• Opportunity for everyone to participate

• Learner as active participant

• Synchronous

• real time conversations

• Asynchronous• Time to reflect before responding

• Teacher• facilitator, coach

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Changes in Education..

Learning

student centric teacher centric

Activity; Peer; Self

Coordinators

WWW

Databases Library

PeersInstructor

Multimedia

ExpertsLearner

Networked Learning9

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Changes in Education...

• Knowledge– Organisation– Media– Access– Use– Sharing

• Books Internet• Text Audio, Video• Library Home;

Computer; PDA

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Impact in Education

• Learning Skills

• Infrastructure Requirements

Read, Write Spellings, Grammar, Teacher depended

Keyboard, Internet, Tools, Community depended

Virtual Learning Environments

• Closed learning environments – restricted to enrolled learners.

• Learning Resources– teacher’s material– activities, quizzes and forums.

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Learning Management Systems

• Free and Open-source e-Learning Software

• Affordable access to Internet

• Not just PowerPoint Slides

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Virtual Learning Environments

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Resources – Home Page

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Resources – Course Page

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Resources – Syllabus

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Student Manual – e-Book

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SCORM Lessons

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Learning Activity

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Learning Quiz

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Continuing Professional Development

• Employment after formal education – degrees and professional qualifications

• To perform expected duties – upgrading their knowledge

• Informal learning activities– reading and exploring on their own

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Informal Learning

• Web 2.0 technologies – platform to generate knowledge collectively– interact with each

• E.g. user experiences and feedbacks on Hotel using blogs

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Learning Tools

• Main Reference to Online Tools

• Other tools– XO

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Synchronous

Synchronous communication is communication taking place at the same time, but at same (classroom/ lecture hall) or different place (Internet). It is real-time.– Chat (Instant Message)

– Video/ Voice chat (e.g. Elluminate, Skype)

– Online Conferencing

– Second Life

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Chat (Instant Message)

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Video/Voice chat

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Online Conferencing

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Second Life

• Synchronous gathering on Second Life

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Asynchronous

• Asynchronous: – Email, List servers, Bulletin board; Message

Boards, Threaded Discussion Boards, SMS, Blogs, Wiki

– Free Wikis• Zoho, Wikispaces, wikiversity

Wiki• A wiki is a page or collection of Web pages

designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content.– www.wikipedia.org/

• Free encyclopaedia

• Wiki farms– http://sites.google.com/, www.mediawiki.org/,

www.pbwiki.com/, www.tiddlywiki.com/, www.wetpaint.com/, www.wikispaces.com/

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Wiki

Wikis Web Page

Open Editing Limited Editing

Text formatting HTML

Easy to create Harder to create

Low security Higher security

Equal users Hierarchical users

Multiple anonymous authors Limited known authors

Collaborative Individual

In progress pages Completed pages32

Conclusion

• Life long learning

• Ability to adapt with society changes

• Exploit technology advances for career advances

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