education plaza: supporting teachers' continuing professional development in online communities...
TRANSCRIPT
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Education PlazaSupporting teachers’ continuing
professional development in online communities
Tryggvi ThayerProject Manager
University of Iceland
Birgir U. ÁsgeirssonProject Manager
University of Iceland
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Context
• Focus on teachers’ continuing professional development– Use of ICT in teaching & learning– Novel teaching methods & classroom practice– Issues relating to specific school subjects– New technologies
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How can we use social media to construct dynamic online environments
that support purposeful professional development?
• Dynamic learning environment:– Adapts to learners’ needs– Adapts to change in the environment– Grows with the learning community
• Purposeful professional development:– Is structured– Is intentional– Is based on specific learning outcomes
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How I will address this question
• The Education Plaza way:– Partnerships with key stakeholders– Communities of practice (CoPs)– Digital habitats
• Samspil 2015 („Jamming 2015”):– Knowledge building initiative: ICTs in education– Theory to practice
• The take-away: Lessons learned
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Education Plaza• Launched January, 2013 as a stakeholder partnership:
• Purpose:– Support communities of practice in education– Strengthen ties between scholarly and practitioner communities
• Projects:– Facilitating dynamic flows of information– Fostering critical and creative dialogue about issues affecting education– Encourage innovative practice in education
University of Iceland – School of Education
Association of Local Authorities
Akureyri University – School of Humanities & Social Sciences
The Icelandic Teachers’ Union
Ministry of Education, Science & Culture
City of Reykjavík – Dept. of Education & Youth
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Education Plaza
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Theoretical Foundations:Communities of Practice
“Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly” (Wenger, 1998)
– Theory systematically describes what has repeatedly been observed
– Provides a theoretical roadmap for targeted action
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Communities of Practice
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Digital Habitats:Supporting CoPs online
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Putting the theory to practice• Samspil 2015 (“Jamming 2015”)– Learning initiative on ICT in education for
teachers and school leaders.– Teachers at preschool, primary &
secondary/upper-secondary levels– Teachers all over Iceland– Low cost/high impact
What can we do within a CoP framework?
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Framing learning needs & goals• Rapid technological and social change raises
questions about learning needs.– How does change affect T&L?– How do educational systems react to change?– How do teachers and school leaders react to change?
• Goals:– Develop capacity in educational community to be
proactive in regards to change.– Foster values and attitudes that promote proactive,
forward-looking knowledge development within communities.
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Structure of Samspil 2015:
Monthly themes
Samspil Learning Initiative
Introductoryface-to-face course Webinars
Short instructional videos
Online communities
Leadership seminars
Selection of elective training for individual institutions
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Sample of one monthWebinars Self-directed learning Social media Other
Week 1 Webinar 1 Brief video Reading Reflective learning
Week 2 Discussion Reflecting on practice
Week 3 Webinar 2 Brief video Sharing Working with students
Week 4 Brief video
Hrs/month
3 hours 1 hour 1-4 hours 1-4 hours
Shared dialogue, shared practice, shared outcomes
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Challenges• Reaching the appropriate audience:
Adapted from Linda McKeown
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Challenges• Defining the appropriate subject:
1995
2000 2005
2007
2010
2014
20??
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• Keeping learners engaged
Challenges
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How I will address this question• Identify communities
– Identify community leaders– Be sensitive to communities’ needs– Reach out to communities where they emerge
• Choose the right tool for the right job– Using existing tools allows communities to build on prior
knowledge/experience• Nurture online identity• Prompt for dialogue
– Focus on timely subject matter– Ensure constructive and positive feedback
• Instructors are active and equal participants in the community
How can we use social media to construct dynamic online environments that support purposeful
professional development?
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Thank you!
We look forward to discussing online communities with you further.
Tryggvi [email protected]
Birgir U. Á[email protected]
Education Plazahttp://www.menntamidja.is