Sandy Hirtz

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Hello campfire buddies,

My name is Sandy and I have not been lurking. I have been enjoying the conversation, the warmth of the campfire and focusing my attention on toasting marshmallows to a golden inside melty brown.

Informal learning is a passion of mine which extended to raising my children. My favorite line was "convince me." It was not saying "no" and not saying "yes". You may think that it was terribly clever of me, but it was actually parental survival, a trying to avoid conflict technique. To the children however it was a challenge. They would dash off and conspire and eventually if they had a long enough attention span to come up with a really good convincement, I would say "yes". What happened of course, is that learned to research and think before they asked. As adults, they are the most accomplished debaters and sharks in any confrontation. I shall toast another marshmallow to the results of informal learning.

As I chew thoughtfully on this, yet another virtual toasty malllow and gloat that my girth is not spreading with each one I virtually gobble, I would like to continue with a quote that I recently heard from Greg Link, (bccampus), that we have "evolved from the information age into the information management age."

For most of us, learning is a passion and constant in our worlds and we are therefore selective in our readings and viewings. Informal learning drives us and gives us reason and purpose.

In this information age and time of constant informal learning, how do we allow ourselves time to relax around a campfire without feeling guilty?

And so, I invite you all to join the BCcampus network of Online Learning Communites. The EdTech Community edtech mandate is to showcase postsecondary eLearning initiative, innovation, best practice and excellence and provide an opportunity for professional development.

The Expo Marketplace Community is for anyone interested in eLearning generally - vendors, k-12 educators, post secondary techies and non-techies, institution leaders and decision makers, corporate, developers..... The expo marketplace mandate is to showcase eLearning initiative, innovation, best practice, and excellence in both industry and education. Expo highlights eLearning products, accomplishments, talent, and capabilities across all sectors (including k-12, post secondary, and corporate environments) and provides a forum for opportunity brokering and matchmaking and professional development.

Cheers
Continuously working and learning
Sandy

The digital world is being created all around us at an astonishing rate. The opportunity to become involved educationally, socially and politically has blossomed with the invent of new technology. Immersive online worlds have emerged where many spend of us spend addictive hours bouncing between levels of frustration, interest, excitement and learning.  These worlds are the natural extension of the Internet connectivity and continuous-learning expected by us today. 

Our discussions over the past two weeks have been focused on defing learning communities.  But building a digital community means more than just providing a public space and having a purpose. 

John Grant says: "A student learning community is a vibrant, dynamic and welcoming environment encouraging interconnections between members of differing backgrounds, interests, and intellect (not only students, but also alumni, industry experts, etc. who provide rich perspective); however, all share a common goal and/or purpose which they ultimately work towards developing and supporting via their contributions. Learning is at the heart of the community's purpose, stimulated by tools that include reflective elements (learning objects), incorporating pedagogy and showcasing practical experience."

Should the community also reflect people?s values and priorities?  Should it challenge, entertain and excite, and drive people to action?   Should it also have an emotional side?

Bruce Jones says "There has to be a meaningful connection on both a personal level and on a philisophical/intellectual/academic level as well.  To carry this out there has to be an effective communal communication effort."

Wenger suggests online learning communities require "shifting the power dynamics between educators and students...with the role of the learner shifting from passive to active while at the same time the educator shifts from expert to mentor."

As quickly as these worlds are growing, they are also much in need of careful destination-planning and considered development.  We must consider not only how to define a learning community, but also how to create the building blocks for these new and exciting digital worlds?  How do we effectively motivate, communicate, and involve?

We invite you to take part in a BCcampus live interactive webcast to discuss these issues. 
Wednesday, May 10th at 10:00am
Click on the following link to enter directly into the live meeting room.  A headset microphone will allow you to interact with participants and share your insights, concerns and questions.
https://www.elluminate.com/mtg.jnlp?password=169077090