Canadian E-Learning Conference June 17-20 2008

Pedagogical Multiplicity

Presenter: Michael Hotrum

How can we ameliorate the feelings of isolation and loneliness leading to disengagement that is often experienced by those involved in distance learning? Can we continuously engage our students and faculty by developing an online space for personal reflection, communal learning and e-portfolio development? At the Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, social software is being used in a multiplicity of ways - academic research, course development, course delivery, enhance student engagement and create ongoing learning communities. Using real life examples we will explore how social software tools - weblogs, wikis, folksonomic tagging, personal profiles, RSS feeds - can be used to create integrated to create an online environment that is adaptable to a variety of academic and pedagogical objectives.

Outcomes:

• Identify issues of isolation and loneliness in distance learning.
• Identify educational social software terminology and applications.
• Describe how social software can be pedagogically integrated.
• Analyze how social software can diminish the isolation and loneliness of the distance learner.
• Develop criteria for the development of a personal learning space and community of learners.

Michael holds a B.Ed and an MDE and works as Learning Designer at the Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta. He has extensive experience as a curriculum and educational program designer, instructional designer, performance consultant, project manager, teacher and facilitator. His research interests include the promulgation of 0pen learning, personal learning environments, design and maintenence of communities of practice, and the use of social software in the design and implementation of flexible lifelong learning.

Visit Michael's blog at  http://choicelearning.blogspot.com/.

 The powerpoint presentation is attached.