Successful use of web 2.0 in professional development

1. Successful use of web 2.0 in professional development Paul Bacsich Matic Media Ltd, Sero Consulting Ltd and Re.ViCa (funded under EU LLL Programme)

2. Web 2.0 – is it new? Some history (mainly from UK, EADTU and Frameworks 3 and 4)

3. The 1990s UK paradigm for “e-CPD” from universities “Conservative constructivism” (JANUS, Café Mondial, UKOU, EPSRC IGDS, SHU, Middlesex) • Content delivered by web/VLE • Interaction with tutor AND communication between students carried out in a social space • And later, group working also • Computer conferencing = CMC • Systems like FirstClass – later the group tools within WebCT and Blackboard

4. FirstClass features • Personal pages • Synchronous (Real-time chat , but also quasi-synchronous (“Who’s online”) • Non-academic interactions – e.g. café (students only) • Remind you of any modern systems?

5. Web 2.0 systems for “business” • Blogs • Wikis • E-Portfolios = CVs (administration) • Social networking? • Yes, in the sense of CMC – so not new • Podcasting??? • Evidence against, including from students

6. Blogs for business • A one-many publishing format, with limited ability to comment • Useful for project management in an “open” tradition • See for example the UK Higher Education Academy blog systems to manage the Pathfinder Programme - http://elearning.heacademy.ac.uk/weblogs/pathfinder/

7. Wikis for business • Gets one back to how the web used to be – anyone remember Microsoft’s IIS? • Very useful for multiple authors collaborating when each has a defined focus and overlap is limited • Examples – Re.ViCa (and there are others) - http://www.virtualcampuses.eu/index.php/Main_Page

8. Axiom (after Ehrmann) CPD should use worldware – tools for learning which are also tools for business Supplementary: and ideally tools whose underlying intellectual processes are not new

9. But what is “successful”? A canter through Re.ViCa

10. Project Description • Re.ViCa = “Reviewing (Traces of) European Virtual Campuses” • Project supported by the European Union: Lifelong Learning Programme Erasmus/Virtual Campus • 1 October 2007 – 30 September 2009

11. Partnership • EuroPACEivzw (BE) • Katholieke Universiteit Leuven – AVNet (BE) • ATiT (BE) • FernUniversität in Hagen (DE) • Helsinki University of Technology - TKK Dipoli (FI) • Université Louis Pasteur (FR) • University of West Hungary - College of Geoinformatics (HU) • International Telematic University UNINETTUNO (IT) • Matic Media Ltd (UK)

12. What is a Virtual Campus Nowadays?

13. Mobility University Seminar VIRTUAL Campus Class Course

14. Our Definition • Virtual Campus = Large-Scale (managed) e-Learning Initiative Targetgroup Institutional Budget Technology Goals

15. Reviewing Virtual Campuses “ Re.ViCa makes a review of Virtual Campuses all over Europe. By comparing European and non-European initiatives, we create lessons learned and critical success factors to enable institutions to set up a Virtual Campus to maximise their performance “

16. MainOutputs • wiki – the heart of the project – including 29 in-depth country reports and 30 mini-reports • 9 detailed case studies including Universidad Politécnica de Madrid • Inventory of “interesting” Programmes • Taxonomy • Resources • Three key meetings with International Advisory Committee • Virtual Campus Manual with guidelines, best-practice, recommendations – and Critical Success Factors

17. Country Reports

18. Lessons Learned • Review of 29 country reports, 21 European and 8 Non-European: • Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom

19. Key Lessons Learned • Language is a key issue in development of Virtual Campus initiatives • HE institutions operating on multi‐campus basis often more likely to adopt VC strategies • No common understanding about the term “Virtual Campus” or even “Virtual University” • Line between “Virtual Campus” and more traditional campus activities is blurred

20. Key Lessons Learned • Long‐term impact and sustainability of national programmes and initiatives now questionable • In Europe, HE sector focus more on inclusion, lifelong learning and adult learning contributes to increase virtual learning opportunities • What lessons can be learned for CPD providers?

21. Key Lessons Learned • Not enough to be advanced and experienced – need to check beyond borders for strategic adaptation • Europe HEIs focus on content and service more then on technological facilities and platforms • International competition a driving force for change and innovation • Quality Assurance focus on traditional learning - lack of a QA system focused on virtual initiatives • For-Profit Virtual Campus initiatives opt for areas where there is a ready market for online courses

22. Programmes of Interest

23. Re.ViCa Success Factors for Virtual Campuses “ A critical success factor is a factor whose presence is necessary for an organisation to fulfill its mission - in other words, if it is not present then its absence will cause organisational and/or mission failure. “

24. Outputs: CSFs • Iterative – involvement of IAC and other feedback • 4 schemes analysed or re‐analysed. MEGATRENDS Study on Large‐scale Virtual Campuses PBP‐VC Study on Consortia‐based Virtual Campuses UNIQUe eLearning Quality/ Accreditation Scheme E‐xcellence Benchmarking/ Quality Scheme for eLearning

25. Results

26. Some Critical and Key Success Factors for CPD • Critical – applies to all types of providers • Leadership: Leaders can make effective decisions with e-learning implications • Management: Style is appropriate to the mix of business and educational activities • Relationships: Effective methods of achieving credibility with government and public agencies • Key – applies particularly to CPD providers? • Pricing: Prices are competitive yet sustainable • Context: Each proposed offering is analysed in context of existing providers and stakeholders • Learning: Provider can rapidly learn lessons from offerings, learners, the market, stakeholders etc

27. Immediate future: Wiki... • Re.ViCa wiki: http://www.virtualcampuses.eu • Launched @ ICDE conference: opening up wiki to public • Include feedback from IAC in our research • Expand wiki, with the input of IAC members and e-Learning community in general • Promotion of wiki through newsletter, publications and events

28. and the Handbook. • Re.ViCa Handbook with best-practices, guidelines and recommendations • Definition of Virtual Campus • Historical Overview • Categorisation • World Tour • Thematic view • Critical success factors • Further reading

29. Future: beyond September Continuation of wiki....... • Agreement between partners to maintain, update and edit the wiki for at least one year • Look for additional funding & projects • Further partnerships (networks & individual contributors) • Expand scope: commercial providers, colleges, schools...?

30. Thank you for listening That was“Successful use of web 2.0 in professional development” By Paul Bacsich Web - http://revica.europace.org Wiki - http://www.virtualcampuses.eu No Re.ViCa blog – yet? In memory of Professor Robin Mason, UK OU Among her many contributions to e-learning was her work at UK OU on virtual campuses and e-CPD Died 15 June 2007 http://iet-public-wiki.open.ac.uk/index.php/Robin