Research based on my class

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Permalink Reply by David Ligon on September 11, 2009 at 12:37am

I found some information from an educational study of Ning that drew some definitve conclusions. Below is the link to the Slideshow, and a synopsis of the content I derived from the presentation. It makes a fairly compelling case that may satisfy your colleagues' need for hard facts.

Technology and Community Enhanced E-Learning

The eTutor Project conducted by James Williams in the UK studied the effectiveness of Ning in collaborative learning. The study found:

*Ning provided a means for students to gain new skills by visiting each others forums and blogs.

*Groups and Forums allowed teams of students to collaborate on group projects.

*Reflective Learning was enhanced by students posting weekly self-reflective blog entries.

*Collaborative Learning was enhanced by students engaging community forum posts.

*As a community e-learning strategy, Ning offers an array of communication tools to support the learning process, such as a tutor commenting on blog posts, forum posts, email and wall comments; and students submitting assignments using the blog facility.

*e-learning maps were integrated into the Ning for mind mapping organization of learning activites, and structuring the Module into Units and Subject areas, as well as create learning activity maps.

*Search tools were used, discovery e-learning methods were tested, and even custom search engines were created using free online tools.

The conclusion was that Web 2.0 Community networks (such as Ning), can make learning sociable, enjoyable, supportive, interactive and stimulating. Community networks create an 'open group-sharing culture'. Learners help each other throughout the learning process, increased independent thinking, and more.

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Permalink Reply by Berta Hayes Capo on September 12, 2009 at 6:37pm

Do they, or will they publish their findings for peer review. I am very interested in looking over the actual research. Thank you, Berta Capo

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Permalink Reply by Bronwyn Shearer on September 12, 2009 at 9:29pm

well we are all learning together, previously we started the class network then invited another class across Australia who were interested and we have been asking them questions. So this week we will load are work and write comments about our pieces (relating to Arts Analysis- Northern Territory Curriculum NTCF) to the class that is linked then they will add a comment to the picture and ask a question of my students such as "what emotion does all the dark colours signify" (in theory probably more like why did you use black? but hey its all learning) and then my students will have to answer those questions thoughtfully. Some students in my class that have a higher ability may be able to review some class memebers work and help others reply. Hopefully so they are all collaborating- communicating- and are engaging. so I will be gathering info against the class of next door yr 3/4s who completed the same art and will be reviewing their work without web 2.0 and just seeing if a ning improves learning in this instence? I have a good feeling...

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Permalink Reply by James Williams on December 7, 2009 at 5:39am

Dear Bronwyn,

Sounds like your introducing some wonderful new teaching and learning methods with your students, which is great. The evaluation report for the eTutor project can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/23775582/ , the report provides more information and analysis of the methods we trialed, and also instructions on how to replicate and use the Web 2.0 software.

Very best wishes,
James W.

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Permalink Reply by Bronwyn Shearer on September 12, 2009 at 9:37pm

thank you for that it will help especially in my little project as I mentioned below cheers

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Permalink Reply by Bronwyn Shearer on September 12, 2009 at 9:30pm

let me know if anyone is doing something similar it would be great to know.. I feel a little behind with all these ning convos starting in 07 - and I have only just heard about them? other experiences would be great too. maybe how it all went terribly wrong so I can avoid hiccups?

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Permalink Reply by David Ligon on September 12, 2009 at 11:37pm

Bronwyn, I am glad you found the information helpful. Best of luck to you on your class.

Berta, you raise a valid point, that in any formal research study the findings are usually published for peer review. Since I was not involved in the study all I can do is refer you to the findings on the slideshow linked in my reply, and the e-mail listed there for the individual responsible for the study. I can tell you that the slideshow did not present any statistical data in the traditional sense which would have done a comparison before and after to assess the effectiveness of the technology in increasing the learning skills mentioned. My overall impression is that the conclusions drawn seemed more anecdotal or informal in nature, and thus not "hard facts" as you would see in a formal Journal study.

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Permalink Reply by Berta Hayes Capo on September 13, 2009 at 6:49am

Thank you David, If you do come across any peer reviewed study I am most interested. That is the general area of my concept paper and I may be able to use it for my literature review. I found several qualitative studies on Web 2.0 and several big studies on Web 2.0 by COSN, MacAurthor, and Becta. Ning is also mentioned in several additional peer reviewed studies in the literature review section.

Thank you,
Berta

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