Accessing Experts - Student Experiences
Educational experts agree that most learning involves dialogue and engagement as well as access to content. Who they study with, and who supports them in study, are also aspects of their experience that students find very significant. Online discussion groups are now providing opportunities to participate beyond the time and space of the classroom and have the added advantage of providing a record for reflection. Computer mediated communication such as video and web conferencing mean students can collaborate across campuses and continents with ease, and with a stronger sense of co-presence than text allows. The ‘others’ involved in learning are often project groups established by the course tutor but can also include specialist experts, shared interest groups worldwide, peers in other colleges or other countries, and even research teams.
I use the forums more as exams become closer to develop an understanding by talking to other people, work with friends which is great if either of you is stuck. To teach someone else is just as good as working through papers.
Student, LEAD project
JISC pioneered early uses of video conferencing across the JANET network and is supporting the new web 2.0 pioneers today as they use blogs and twitter (M3), social networks (eTutor; MANSLE), and even immersive environments such as Second Life (MOOSE; OpenHabitat) to build learning relationships. The section on web 2.0 pedagogy explores in more detail how these new web services are supporting collaborative knowledge building and the development of learning communities, both functions that have been associated with higher levels of learning.