CIL2006, Day 1: Collaborative E-Learning Communities

4 people spoke about collaborative e-learning and webjunction:

Anna Leavitt:

What is e-learning?
electronically delivered methods…

blended learning - a mix of educational approaches. Mixes e-learning and face-to-face learning

blended=
- dominant mode for offering educational materials online
- still a need for human contact and face to face interaction
- peole learnign in multiple ways
- still large gaps in production of educational contant for online learning

Pros of blended learning:
- stronger sense of community than either traditional or fully onlne
- consistent delivery of message
- ability to self pace
- refresher on your time
- reduced classroom time - big benefit
- more effective staff training

Cons:
- some don’t like the term…
- developers - how to manage and design it correctly
- how to manage roles, responsibilities
- how to meet expectations, control costs

hard to tell if someone is engaged and active if it’s an online class!

WebJunction: an online community for library staff to share

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Elizabeth laukea:

webjunction - a state partner’s perspective

webjunction can be a great tool to use when implementing a blended learning program - webjunction has the backbone and apps in place

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Laura Staley:

WebJunction’s spanish language outreach program

they did a pilot project

blended model

in-person: train the trainer institute, local workshops, follow up

Online Elements: online content and resources, message boards, webinars, online courses

they also do a live meeting (online?) at about the 6-week point

Why Blended Learning?

extends and reinforces learning - you can share things online easily
builds an online community of interest
make info available to the broadest audience possible
meets a range of experience levels - because it’s a national - level project. Ex - a rural library that suddenly has a hispanic pop surge - they need resources fast!

benefits/challenges:

in-person workshops - hard to coordinate
message boards - easy way to collaborate and connect with. But - can’t assume comfort level, it’s not an immediate answer
webinars - (live meeting sessions) a way to connect. but - have to have access to a phone line AND an internet connection.
online course - figuring out how to integrate it into curriculum - 4-hour self paced course - lots of material to develop, expensive

cil2006