Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Talk for Learning Pool at the Open University about developing communities around e-learning to improve engagement.
Citation preview
How online communities can improve e-learning
Who am I?
Various roles in local and central government
Community Evangelist for Learning Pool
Focus now on digital engagement
Learning Pool
“The public sector learning community”
Learning Pool
• Originally started by IDeA (2002)• Service to help public sector improvement• Sharing to save time and money• Membership community• E-learning in a box• Content that’s relevant to you• Platforms, including hosting and support• Services for customers who want it• Affordable with a clear return on investment
Importance of online communities
Importance of online communities
Communities
The human bit of learning (and indeed other) technologies
The role of community
1. The Learning Pool community of learning and development professionals
2. Communities of learners in all our customer organisations
3. The wider community of those in and around the public sector
Building the LP community online
Catalogue
Forums
Webinars
Other content
Building the LP community offline
Steering group
Conferences and workshops
Networking events
Learning hack days
Communities of learners
Blended learning
Social learning tools (forums, chats, blogs, wikis etc)
Informal learning events
Wider public sector community
Twitter!
Blogging
GovCamp
Go where people are
Even if you have your own community space – don’t be afraid to use others too.
What makes a great community?
It depends!
Plenty of activity, but not for the sake of it
Owned by members, not the organisation
Taken seriously
Tech• Email• Usenet• Forums• Blogs• Social networks• Status updates
Role of the community evangelist
• NOT a technology evangelist• Encourage participation• Promotion of the community and its activity• Interpreting community needs• Being helpful• Create spaces, on and offline, for others to
make use of
Key skills• Networking• Online footprint• Tone and style• Collaborative• Openness• Passion
Summing up
Fostering community leads to greater engagement
Requires time, effort and a willingness to give up control
Have the right responsible person
