Open and creative dialogue is encouraged through this method designed to share experiences and insights. Moving in rotations through several working groups evokes a collective knowledge and cross-fertilization that is capable of illustrating new ideas and solving problems.
Collaborative learning technologies One of DELTA‟s primary responsibilities is to assist the systemized utilization of learning technologies throughout the ITC ILO. Today, there are countless open source (free) technologies that are well suited for the TLA and Blended Learning Approach. These technologies can be adapted and adopted for a wide variety of scenarios. They enhance the scale and scope of activities and provide an unprecedented ability to reach participants in their workplace. This has proven particularly effective in the modern world where complex challenges are best addressed in context. Knowledge sharing is also improved by the technologies as more than ever before, everyone can be an agent in the learning process. Below is a summary of the instructional fiches created to assist Centre staff in implementing a wide variety of tools. Summary of collaborative learning technologies Audience response systems (clickers) Audience Response Systems or “clickers” are a tool used to quickly and easily get feedback from a group in order to immediately make adjustments to improve teaching and learning. Audiences can anonymously answer questions using a handheld device. It engages participants that might otherwise not contribute to discussions for personal or cultural reasons. Use them as an icebreaker, to check for prior knowledge, identify misconceptions, gauge opinions on controversial issues, stimulate debate or as a form of assessment. Blogs Website, or part of a website, for regular articles and links on a particular subject on which visitors can comment, making it an interactive tool. Can combine text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Blogs can be used to express opinions, disseminate information, share expertise, promotion, for peer to peer development or for reflection, for example. Discussion forums A discussion forum, or message board, is an online discussion site to hold ongoing conversations in the form of short posts. The objectives are to generate dialogue, sollicit feedback, provide direct answers to questions, share and discuss practices/ideas, create knowledge. It can also be an informal forum for team building and networking. For multilingual participants, can facilitate asynchronous interaction using automated translation. Mindmpapping Diagram representing words, ideas or tasks linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea, also known as concept mapping. Can generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas, and as an aid in problem solving, decision making, strategic analysis, debriefing, collaborative brainstorming. Also possible without technology, using writing walls or paper. Podcasting
