MicroSCoPE: A Close Look at What's Happening in the SCoPE Community
May, 2008
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In This Issue
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1. Social Research - Benefits for Researchers - starts today!
2. Online Conference - Shaping Our Future: Toward a Pan-Canadian E-Learning Research Agenda
3. Ask the Experts: Educational Communities of Practice
4. Viral Professional Development
5. R2D2 - Empowering Online Learning
6. Activity Recap
7. PeriSCoPE
8. About SCoPE
9. About MicroSCoPE
1. Social Research - Benefits for Researchers - starts today!
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Social media provides opportunities to socialize, read, write, collaborate, aggregate, create, synthesize, track... How do we use social media for conducting research? What are our new research questions and strategies now that we have access to social media? Are you, as a scientist/researcher, a social media skeptic or a social media evangelist? Join us for this 10-day seminar discussion to explore how social media can benefit our roles as researchers. The asynchronous discussion is now underway. A live session using WiZiQ, a SCoPE collaborating partner, is scheduled for Thursday May 8, 8:00 AM PDT, 15:00 GMT
2. Online Conference - Shaping Our Future: Toward a Pan-Canadian E-Learning Research Agenda
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May 12-30, 2008
Canada is one of the only countries in the developed world without a national strategic plan to research, develop and harness new technologies for teaching and learning. E-learning, in combination with other forms of delivery, affords potential to increase not only accessibility, but effectiveness and enjoyment of both formal and lifelong learning for Canadians of all ages. This 3-week conference is a collaborative effort to encourage open discussions about a Pan-Canadian e-learning research agenda. It is designed to inform, inspire and lead to actions that ensure that Canadians maximize the opportunities presented by new technologies and associated pedagogies.
The conference sponsors are the Canadian Institute for Distance Education Research, Learning Technologies Centre at the University of Manitoba, BCcampus, and Elluminate. Presenters include Terry Anderson, Gráinne Conole, John Biss, Erin Mills, Tom Carey, Gilbert Paquettem, George Siemens, and Heather Kanuka.
The background reading for week 1 is available for download. Drop into the conference Gathering Place to introduce yourself!
3. Ask the Experts: Educational Communities of Practice
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June 4, 2008
This is a special invitation from the Best Practice Models for E-learning Community to participate in the upcoming Ask the Experts sessions. What is a community of practice? Can the concept work in an educational setting? What strategies, tools and techniques can be utilised to effectively create, support and enrich learning in an online group? How can we organize educational experiences that ground formal learning in practice through participation in communities around subject matters? Join in stimulating and interesting discussion with experienced thinkers, designers and users of communities of practice: Etienne Wenger, Sylvia Currie and Helen Walmsley. There will be a range of resources and case studies to review prior to the event.
This event is free and open to all e-learning practitioners. To join the community, go to http://crusldi1.staffs.ac.uk/bestpracticemodels/. The enrolment key is BP06. Please email Helen Walmsley h.walmsley@staffs.ac.uk to reserve your place at this event.
4. SCoPE Seminar: Viral Professional Development
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June 2 - 22, 2008
Facilitators: Heather Ross and Jennifer Jones
Description: Some of us have experienced it, but only a few have put a label to this new "strategy" for keeping up-to-date in our education field. What is this new form of professional development? Is it for everybody? How will it change the way we support faculty?
5. SCoPE Seminar: R2D2 - Empowering Online Learning
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July 21 - August 3, 2008
Facilitators: Curt Bonk and Ke Zhang
Description: The next book for our Professional Reading Group series is "Empowering Online Learning: 100+ Activities for Reading, Reflecting, Displaying, and Doing" by Curt Bonk and Ke Zhang. Curt describes the R2D2 model as a "problem solving wheel with many entry points". This SCoPE seminar marks the launch of this book. Preorders are available from Amazon!
* If you would like an event to be listed, please contact Sylvia Currie scurrie@sfu.ca. Check the SCoPE calendar for a full list of online events that will be of interest to members.
6. Activity Recap
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Rethinking Teaching in the Sciences
Facilitator: Gina Bennett
April 7 - 27, 2008
This seminar, organized in collaboration with the British Columbia Educational Technology Users Group (ETUG), questioned existing practices and surveyed new techniques and new technologies that may enable us to teach science in exciting new ways, at a distance. Can science be taught at a distance? What exactly is science education, anyway?
Past SCoPE seminar discussions are always available for reading and afterthoughts.
7. PeriSCoPE
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* The deadline for submissions to the next issue of The Transformative Dialogues: Teaching and Learning Journal is May 15th. The theme is Exploring the Range, Assessment and Dissemination of Scholarly Activity in Teaching and Learning. Your submission can be anything from an image to a personal reflections piece or full article.
* In February Gilly Salmon invited participation in the discussion, Key Competencies for Second Life Moderators. The competencies and guide developed after the seminar are currently being used in a training session. More information will be posted very soon!
* Deirdre Bonnycastle has posted the latest Active Learning Blog Carnival. This months Big Question is: Is differentiated instruction a reasonable path to take to make inclusive education more attainable? Take a moment to add your comments!
* Join the SCoPE group at Linkedin to connect with others who are interested in employment in education or in connecting professionally on projects. Our member list is growing!
* Follow SCoPE on Twitter
* The SCoPE Facebook group and member networking is proving to be an effective way to get the word out about SCoPE events and keep up with members' activities. Stop by.
* Check what SCoPE members are blogging about and subscribe to our SCoPE Bloggers feed.
* Have you added your name and location to our Frappr Map?
* Leave a message on the SCoPE Voicethread
8. About SCoPE
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SCoPE brings together individuals who share an interest in education research and practice, and offers opportunities for dialogue across disciplines, geographical borders, professions, levels of expertise, and education sectors. Membership is free and open to everyone.
SCoPE forms collaborating partnerships with many organizations to implement and promote community activities and products. This is a mutual exchange of support and services.
Self-register at http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca
9. About MicroSCoPE
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SCoPE members receive MicroSCoPE issues automatically. If you prefer to read MicroSCoPE on the website or via RSS, manage your subscription here:
http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/view.php?f=5
MicroSCoPE is prepared by Sylvia Currie, Community Coordinator (scurrie@bccampus.ca).
Please spread the word about SCoPE activities. Distribute this newsletter!