Building Online Education Communities:Case Studies from the UAE and Abroad

Anna BatchelderFounder

For the next 40 minutes we will discuss…What are online education communities?Why participate in online education communities?Case studies of online education communities.How to create great online education communities.

Education Technology PD and Consulting

Our mission is to help schools and organizations usedigital technologies to achieve their learning andcommunication goals!

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What are onlineeducation communities?

Image:h"p://www.flickr.com/photos/baratunde/2837373493/

Virtual spaces where people can…

Connect Collaborate ListenCreate Learn

Images:

h"p://www.flickr.com/photos/darrenhunter/2881565734/

h"p://www.flickr.com/photos/mikedefiant/2149175068/

h"p://www.flickr.com/photos/collin_key/2981543442/

Why should educators &students participate in onlineeducation communities?

Image:h"p://www.flickr.com/photos/29487767@N02/3574392846/

Research says…Teachers are the most important variable in determining childrenʼs educational success(North Central Regional Education Laboratory 2009, McKinsey 2007, Darling-Hammond 1997).

Systematic support for teachers leads to increased teacher effectiveness in schools(Boreen, Johnson, Niday and Potts, 2000; Wong and Breaux, 2003).

Teachers can be effective change agents when supported by communities of teacher learners(Corrie, 2000).

Blended instruction is a very effective way to learn(Reynard 2009).

Viewed together, these findings suggest that by providing educators with systematic professionaldevelopment and collaboration opportunities within a face-to-face and online teacher community—thenourishing conditions to support an effective teacher corp. (and hence engaged students) can beintroduced.

Examples of onlineeducation communitiesat the global, local andpersonal levels.

Image:h"p://www.flickr.com/photos/jakebouma/3345296623/

Morocco UAE USA

Learnmorehere:h"p://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Main/CurrikiStories

A place where RAKeducators can collaborate,share knowledge andsupport one another.

http://www.rakteachersnetwork.ning.comThe goals of the forum and accompanying edtech workshops are to:- Facilitate a forum (face-to-face and virtual) by which Ras al Khaimah (RAK) educatorsand school leaders can collaborate, share knowledge and support one another.- Improve the quality of teaching in RAK through the exchange of ideas, experiences andresearch.- Disseminate best practices in education from global thought leaders to the teachers ofRAK.- Provide RAK educators and school leaders with tools and strategies to take advantage ofthe vast educational potential of the World Wide Web.- Break down cultural barriers and help build an education community in RAK committedto improving education for ALL children in RAK.

Build your own Personal Learning NetworkJoin a professional learning community onNing, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twine…

Pick 5 education blogs and follow them usingyour RSS reader.

Create a Twitter account and converse withother edutweeters!

Come to Open Diversity Education Forums atthe Shelter (UAE)!

MathMath

Image:h"p://www.flickr.com/photos/mehradhm/2725631582/

Seeaccompanyingblogpostandvideo:h"p://literacyispriceless.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/developing‐your‐personal‐learning‐network/

TolearnaboutOpenDiversity,clickhere:h"p://www.facebook.com/pages/Open‐Diversity/111073592243025?ref=ts

How to build effectiveonline educationcommunities…

Image:h"p://www.flickr.com/photos/dunechaser/163959411/

1) Identify the people and the purpose!

2) Develop use cases.

- What are members going to do?

3) Select a platform.

- Ning, Curriki, Facebook, Dolphin…

4) Design and build your online interface.

5) Seed engaging content.

6) Invite pilot users.

7) Get initial feedback and modify interface

and content.

8) Invite more members.

9) Cultivate your community!

How to cultivate youronline educationcommunity…

Image:h"p://www.flickr.com/photos/lighthack/4289818310/

1) Have rules!

2) Find a passionate community

manager.

3) Continually seed great content.

4) Encourage and reward community

generated content.

5) Experiment!

6) Combine with face-to-face!

1) Haverules‐Havethecommunitycollabora0velycreaterulesthatmakeallmembersfeelwelcome,safeandexcitedtolearn/par0cipate.

2) Findapassionatecommunitymanager‐Themanagershouldwelcomeallnewmembersandcoordinate/adver0seallcommunityac0vi0es/contentaddi0ons/etc.Thepersonshouldregularlyengagemembersandsendmonthlyupdatestoallmemberstokeeppeopleengagedandintheknow.Thepersonshouldalsousecommunityusagestats(GoogleAnaly0cs!)tomeasurewhatthecommunitycaresabout.Italwayshelpstostayontopofcommunitybestprac0cesviasiteslikeMashableandNing.

3) Con0nuallyseedgreatcontent‐Membersneedtofeelliketheyaregecngsomethingoutofthecommunity‐conversa0on,resources,news,usefulinforma0on.Greatcontent=happycommunitymembers.

4) Encourageandrewardcommunitygeneratedcontent‐Acon0nuousflowofusergeneratedcontentisagreatwaytokeepacommunityalive.Makeiteasyformemberstocontributecontentandthencelebratethemwhentheydo!Createincen0vesforuser’stocontributecontentandthenmakesurethatcontentiseasytofind(I.e.,inacentralplaceonyourcommunity).

5) Experiment‐Rela0onshipstake0meandeffort.Don’texpecttogetyouronlinecommunityrightthefirst0me.Asuccessfulandalivecommunityrequiresconstantexperimenta0on.

6) Combinewithface‐to‐face‐Onlineconversa0onsaregreat,buttheyareevenmorepowerfulwhenyouknowthepeopleinperson(thinkFacebook!).

Q & AThank you!

Email: anna@boneducation.comBlog: www.literacyispriceless.wordpress.com

Website: www.boneducation.comTwitter: @bon_education