Supporting distributed learning environments with loosely-coupled tools and services

Background:

iCamp (http://icamp.eu) is an international research and development project funded by the European Commission under the IST (Information Society Technology) programme of the 6th framework pogramme. The main objective of iCamp is to establish and evaluate open learning environments for university students across Europe by connecting loosely coupled, open source and open access tools and services and to provide interoperability amongst them. Furthermore, iCamp strives to create authentic educational challenges in the areas of collaborating, self-directing intentional learning projects, and social-networking, in geographically and institutionally distributed settings that are mediated by such tools and services (Fiedler & Kieslinger, 2006).

iCamp follows a design based research approach(Brown, 1992; Cobb et al., 2003; Collings et al., 2004; Edelson, 2002) and thus carries out an ambitious series of international field trials to explore and evaluate some of its core ideas and concepts. In this context we design and implement prototypical educational challenges on the basis of our current understanding of how distributed learning environments can be initiated and supported within formal education. The empirical insights that we gain through our field research are then fed back into the next round of improvement and refinement of the overall design framework (Fiedler & Pata, 2007). The revised framework in turn will guide and inform further field trials. We expect this iterative process to support a gradual abstraction of principles and concepts and the overall development of a robust framework and design guidelines.

Currently, iCamp runs its third international field trial (March 2008 to end of May 2008). This trial encompasses around 80 students and 10 facilitators from 6 European countries (Finnland, Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Spain). It is carried out in collaboration with the EMIM (European Masters in Interactive Multimedia) consortium. iCamp built an educational challenge around an international master course registered with Tallinn University, Estonia, that requires cross-national and -institutional collaboration among students and faciliators. All activities are mediated with loosely-coupled, networked tools and services that students and faciliators and freely select and combine according to their preferences. The whole educational challenge is carried out on the distance. Assessment combines various perspectives and sources, including peers and self.

Objectives of the proposed workshop:

• present and discuss preliminary results and insights from the ongoing international field research in iCamp
• present and discuss the potentials and limitations of supporting distributed learning environments with loosely-coupled, neworked tools and services
• discuss conceptual and organisational challenges in such a context
• identify directions for further development and research

Proposed format:

We would like to present and discuss the field trial experiences from various perspectives. Thus we propose short, impressionistic, personal accounts from the following contributors: Sebastian Fiedler (Pedagogical manager of iCamp) Terje Väljataga (Facilitator within the current field trial) Barbara Kieslinger (Overall project manager of iCamp) to be announced (Student participating in the current field trial) This will be followed by a rather open, interactive and moderated discourse and exchange with other participants of the conference. We propose to use some “open space” methods for engaging and steering the overall event.

References:

Brown, A. L. (1992). Design experiments: Theoretical and methodological challenges in creating complex interventions in classroom setting. The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 2(2), 141-178.

Cobb, P., Confrey, J., diSessa, A., Lehrer, R., & Schauble, L. (2003). Design experiments in educational research. Educational Researcher, 32(1), 9-13.

Collings, A., Joseph, D., & Bielaczyc, K. (2004). Design research: Theoretical and methodological issues. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 13(1), 15-42.

Edelson, D. C. (2002). Design research: What we learn when we engage in design. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 11(1), 105-121.

Fiedler, S., & Kieslinger, B. (2006). iCamp pedagogical approach and theoretical background. Retrieved November 10, 2007, from http://www.icamp.eu/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/d11icamppedagogical-approach.pdf

Fiedler, S., & Pata, K. (2007). Towards an environment design model for iCamp space. Retrieved December 5, 2007, from http://www.icamp.eu/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/d12_icamp.pdf