MicroSCoPE: A Close Look at What's Happening in the SCoPE Community
June, 2008
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In This Issue
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1. Viral Professional Development - starts today!
2. Shaping Our Future Online Conference
3. R2D2 - Empowering Online Learning Book
4. Gilly Salmon invites your feedback
5. Special Interest Groups
6. PeriSCoPE
7. About SCoPE
8. About MicroSCoPE
1. Viral Professional Development - starts today!
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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 "strategy" for keeping up-to-date in our education field. What is this VPD? Is it for everybody? How will it change the way we support faculty? Join us for this 3-week seminar discussion, and in keeping with the theme, be sure to spread the word!
2. Shaping Our Future Online Conference
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May, 2008
The Shaping Our Future conference has now officially wrapped up, but there is still plenty to work to be done! We had a very active month, beginning with pre-reading and a pre-conference seminar discussion on Social Research - Benefits for Researchers, facilitated by Ignatia de Waard, followed by participation from 235 members in 8 live sessions and asynchronous discussions totalling 388 forum posts. It seems we had a lot to talk about! If you participated in the conference, even if was just for one session or to read along, please complete the SOF2008 survey. We will be busy analyzing, summarizing, and writing over the next month to prepare a outcome document representing our work together.
The conference sponsors were the Canadian Institute for Distance Education Research, Learning Technologies Centre at the University of Manitoba, BCcampus, and Elluminate.
3. Gilly Salmon Invites Your Feedback
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In February Gilly Salmon facilitated the Key Competencies for Second Life Moderators seminar to inform the moderator training for the MOOSE project (MOdelling Of SecondLife Environments). The Second Life Training Guides are now available for download and Gilly Salmon invites your feedback. Please have a look and drop into the "afterthoughts" forum to give your feedback.
4. SCoPE Seminar: R2D2 - Empowering Online Learning: July 21 - August 3, 2008
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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". The SCoPE seminar marks the launch of this book. Preorders are available from Jossey-Bass, Chapters, and Amazon.
5. Special Interest Groups
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There are several new private special interest groups and groups exploring the use of the SCoPE environment for their own communities of practice. A warm welcome to:
* Campus Climate Network
* Canadian Mental Health Association
* Several new subgroups of the Arranging the Virtual Chairs project, funded by Social Science and Humanities Research Council to study pedagogically-oriented online discussions.
At SCoPE we welcome requests for education-related Special Interest Groups.
6. PeriSCoPE
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* Sandy Hirtz is hosting a new British Columbia Literacy community.
* Jay Cross is looking for reviewers for his un-book. Sign up for the Internettime Ning community to reply.
* WikiEducator's next online Learning4Content workshop starts this Monday, 26 June 2008.
* 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 keep up with members' activities. Stop by!
* Check what SCoPE members are blogging about and subscribe to our SCoPE Bloggers feed. Do you have a blog? Add it to our SCoPE member blogs database.
* Have you added your name and location to our Frappr Map?
* Leave a message on the SCoPE Voicethread
7. 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
Check the SCoPE calendar for a full list of online events that will be of interest to members.
Past SCoPE seminar discussions are always available for reading and afterthoughts.
8. 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!