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Virtualized Learning Spaces (VLS)Virtualized Learning Spaces (VLS)◦ Virtualized or remote learning space called a
virtual machine (VM) that mirrors working environments used by professionals in the field
◦ Authentic micro-world where students have the ability to work directly with the technology, manipulate the environment and suffer the consequences of both good andbad decision-making.
Cognitive ApprenticeshipCognitive Apprenticeship◦ A learning model where real-world problems are
introduced by the Teacher/Master.◦ Support or scaffolding is given until the
Student/Apprentice can accomplish the goal or skill on their own.
◦ The modern Teacher/Master is more like a coach who can model behaviors, best practices, and problem-solving techniques.
Participatory DesignParticipatory Design◦ Student stakeholders are asked
to play the role of actors in the design process.
◦ Students are given a voice as they participate in cooperative discovery, and shared construction of the learning environment.
◦ Feedback from students and lessons learned are incorporated into the learning environment for the next semester.
◦ When possible, simple solutions can be adopted within a given semester.
Community of Practice (CoP)Community of Practice (CoP)◦ A forum or online collaboration
environment can serve as aplace where members can share information.
◦ There are many different features that can support a CoP including social media spaces like blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, and mircoblogs.
◦ Ideally a CoP reflects the context of the members and has a long-term life.
The Web Systems Development I class at Utah Valley University makes use of student VMs.
At the beginning of the semester a VM image is designed in Vmware.
Each student is given their own VM.The teacher also had access to student VMs.◦ MSDNAA Licensed software includes:
Microsoft Windows Server 2008R2 Internet Information Services 7.5 Visual Studio Ultimate 2010 SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Various browsers
◦ SQL Server 2010 was used on a different server in the same domain.
Teachers responsible for planning design of VMs for VLS in the IS program are often at the cutting edge, or bleeding edge of innovation and change.
For example, for the Fall 2010 Semester:◦ New textbook version, new VPN, new server
operating system, new development version, new database version.
◦ Rights for access to resources, training materials, code snippets, and projects all had to be revised.
The semester was starting and the teacher could not find and fix everything that had
changed or needed to change.
Not enough runway...
To involve student stakeholders in participatory design of the learning space, a COP forum was created in what was then the current LMS, Blackboard Vista.
With Different Topics for:◦ Learning Environment Bug Reporting◦ Project Get Help◦ Research in Course Topics◦ Student Cafe
Already student discoveries, complaints, and ideas gleaned from the COP participation postings were being incorporated into modifications to the VLS.
Improvements were made to course training materials, and important resources were able to be archived from semester to semester.
The participatory design contributions by students were paying dividends, but were students really sold on this process?
According to some posted comments, there were issues that needed resolving with the CoP implementation to keep students onboard as co-contributors in Participatory Design.
“I was wondering if anyone else though[t] this forum/discussion page was [not] more user friendly. It seems very not easy to see people's posts and comments.”
“I think we all wish blackboard was designed better. Seems like some boards are setup for normal message board posting, while other boards are setup for blog type posting (the posts you can rate).
“Personally I'm not a fan of Blackboard but the discussion/forum area does act as a good place to share information that relates to class topics. It's a good place to get help from other people in the class and share things that you find....
In an effort to perform a formative evaluation as to the acceptance level and usefulness of CoP features included in Blackboard, a voluntary survey was conducted over the course of three semesters.
Because responses varied some across semesters, the results were averaged and are presentedand examined next.
Student Comments:
◦ “Sharing solutions and fixes for bugs or problems are often the most valuable and educational posts on the forums. “
◦ “…That's how the real professionals do it. So I think that aspect of the forums is great.”
◦ “Blackboard can allow that, but I don't think people use it and blackboard is not set up to be easy to use.
If it was setup like a forum where the question is set up and you can see everyones replies on one page then it would be useful, but in this case it is horrible to use and people wont use it.”
Results:◦ About 68% agreed or
strongly agreed the COP allowed for this.
◦ About 18% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
Student Comments:
◦ “Without a reliable internet connection accessing blackboard through VM is even more difficult than it already is through a native machine.”
◦ “Accessing blackboard should be kept as simple as possible.”
◦ “Remoting into a VM is challenging because it only allows for a single screen, therefore running a browser is more challenging because it takes up screen real estate.”
◦ “It is easy because anywhere you have internet you can access it, but it also relies on the internet and vpn working.”
Results:◦ About 63% agreed or
strongly agreed the COP allowed for this.
◦ About 17% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
Student Comments:
◦ “I think sharing information and problems solved is essential in this field. Teaching to share this information is a good practice.”
◦ “I love to see how other people tackle a problem so that I can take some pointers from it.”
◦ “It is important to learn that we don't know everything, and we don't have to. Being able to learn from others and communicate the problems that we experience is essential in today's business world.”
◦ “I tend to work on my
own and use the internet and other resources in problem solving.”
Results:◦ About 69% agreed or
strongly agreed the COP allowed for this.
◦ About 11% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
Students’ skills and opinions are ever changing, technologies they encounter in their daily lives are constantly changing, and learning spaces where they apprentice are also changing.
Student learners in the IS & IT fields need to realize this shifting of their comfort zone will be with them their entire career. But it is human nature that students will use the spaces or tools that best suit their needs.
Commitment by student participants as social actors utilizing a CoP can be encouraged and incentivized by recognizing their contributions quickly and providing them feedback as part of the evolutionary design process.
Together IS & IT student/apprentices along with their faculty/mentors can become “agents of change” for these virtualized learning spaces.
Just as students will soon become “agents of change” in their professional careers.
