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A CADE-AMTEC presentation by Heather Ross and Sylvia Currie about the SCoPE community http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca May, 2007
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SCoPE Community
Essential Elements for Informal Learning
Sylvia Currie, SFUHeather Ross, SIAST
Met in person for the first timetoday!
Overview
• Background of SCoPE
• Elements, emphases, and catalysts
• Evidence that SCoPE is a virtual learning community
• The work that is needed
About SCoPE
• Launch fall, 2005• Free, open to the public• Identify and build on SFU interests and
expertise and also serve an international audience
• Encourage the use of SCoPE for research on online communities
Starting Point
• Simple, web-based environment• Essential communication tools• Careful not to “over design” before launch• Began with discussion about the community• Core activity: monthly seminar discussions• Designed for busy people
– No obligations– No guilt allowed!
Elements of Communities
Selznik (1996)• Historicity• Identity• Mutuality• Plurality• Autonomy• Participation• Integration
Schwier (2001) -
Virtual Learning Communities
• An orientation to the future
• Technology• Learning
Historicity
• “Let's get started. I really liked how Richard set up the last seminar so I'm going to do something similar.” (Heather Ross - 5 November 2006)
• “In the last seminar on online facilitation, Nick and Sylvia used some tools to give us an ‘at a glance’ overview of the discussions. We’ll also be using these tools in this session.” Therese Weel 4 April, 2007
Identity• Discussions about SCoPE• Vote on name, logo• Members’ blogs• Appreciation of contributions: “I want to
acknowledge David for sharing his cogent notes on our seminar so far. They provide a useful and succinct picture of where we’ve been and where else we might go… (Sarah Haavind 2 June, 2006)
• Profiles
Participation• 880 members• 43 countries• 28 members have
volunteered to facilitate seminars
• 16 Special Interest Groups have been created
• 3,531 posts• 99,211 guest views
Autonomy
In keeping with the tradition at SCoPE, newcomers, latecomers, lurkers, and passersby are always
welcomed!
• Not all participants are visible • Opportunity to become familiar with the culture• Model respectful communication• To date zero instances of inappropriate behaviour
Plurality & Mutuality- Encourage association with related
groups- Reciprocity / mutual exchange of
services and interests- Bringing in knowledge and
examples from outside groups
Technology: Access and Communication
• Different modes and levels of engagement– Email subscriptions to
forums– RSS– Invisible presence– Archives– Incidental learning– Spontaneous entry
into a discussion
“Been lurking asynchronously, but
my activation threshold has been reached and I have to jump in with some
desultory comments.”
Corrie Bergeron - 26 January 2007
Technology: Co-Construction
• Smartcopy/ referencing• Wikis• 3rd party tools• Cross-referencing
earlier forums• Marginalia for
tracking/summarizing• Search by individual
forum or entire group
Future• Members decide the future
– Ideas for seminar topics emerge through participation
– Special interest groups to continue discussions
• Unlike traditional courses with start and end dates, SCoPE continues and is shaped by members’ interests
Learning
“SCoPE is such an amazing learning environment. See you on the 4th!”
(Ian McLeod 2 April 2007)
Sharing knowledge in workplaces and local communities (plurality)
Integration
The work that is needed
• Organize discussion threads for casual participation
• Management of resources generated through participation
• Porous boundaries• Continue to advance our work together• Celebrate our accomplishments
Join us!
http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca
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