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Other elements
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.
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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
Shared audio file posted on the internet. Can be downloaded to a computer, an MP3 player, a smart phone for easy access. Accommodates different learning styles and can help overcome literacy problems or visual disabilities. Podcast are often used for interviews with subject matter experts.
Presentations
Visual aids that can support, supplement and reinforce the narration of a speaker, trainer or facilitator. Interactivity can be added using images, videos and through the use of Audience Response Systems. High impact for visual learning styles.
Screencasting
Shares a computer screen via video presentation in real-time with audio, video or other elements. Can be recorded and reused, and is suitable for tutorials, introductions to distance learning, training on technical concept or procedures, convey knowledge from an expert that cannot be present or even as a promotional tool launching a learning activity.
Self-guided learning
Asynchronous self-paced e-learning tool created using a combination of tools and methodology. Convenient to develop when content is already available and adequate and can easily be transformed into an e-learning module. Often used for phases of distance learning or blended learning and focuses on training for knowledge, including communicating information, sharing guidelines, and explaining instructions. It can serve as a course orientation, to level previous knowledge, to attend to different learning styles during a faceto-face training or to follow-up with an activity covering more advanced or jobspecific topics. Offering modules in different languages can help support a face-to-face activity for non native speakers.
Social bookmarking
Is a way to store, organize, search and share your bookmarks on a web based site as opposed to from your desktop, allowing you to access them from different locations. You can use it to establish a knowledge repository on a specific topic, to share resources among participants and peers, to search through expert‟s bookmarks or for collaborative research.
Social networking
Grouping of individuals or organizations to explore common interests. Social networking sites provide various ways for users to interact, such as chat, messaging, video, voice chat, file sharing, blogging and discussion groups. Can be used for the social and interactive aspects of learning activities or for promotion.
Wikis
A wiki is a web site that allows you to add, edit and modify content collaboratively and at a distance. Excellent tool for creating and managing joint documents or projects, such as FAQs, checklists, Case Studies, Timelines or action plans.
If participants need to learn about a new convention or a new compliance measure
Short, self-paced e-Learning modules to convey basic information. A webconference for information on how to apply it, exceptions, practical examples, etc. Participants can ask questions to subject matter experts. This discussion would take place in a face to face setting in the 2nd phase of a blended learning activity. A discussion forum for questions or concerns that arise after the virtual classroom sessions. In some cases, a general content forum (i.e. and Employer‟s activities forum) is used but for more complex or larger impact change, a dedicated forum can be created (a joint ILO-FAO around safety and health and working conditions in the fisheries sector
Low Bandwidth collaboration tools There are several tools that support technology enhanced learning in a low bandwidth context.
Additional off-line tools which were successfully piloted at DELTA can be retrieved from the following blogpost: http://itcilo.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/off-line-e-learning/
ITC-ILO in-a-Box
You want to use some computer applications but you do not have them at hand? You want to have access to a series of usefull open source applications? You want to work and learn in a mobile way?
The ITC-ILO ToolBox is an application installed on a USB-stick which allows you to work, learn and share, straight from the stick.
From the USB-stick you will be able to do the following:
- work with the entire OpenOffice package (work on your documents, make spreadsheets and prepare your presentations) - communicate through the Skype package (make your skype calls straight from your USB from any computer or laptop that you want to use) - see video's through the media player - check your pdf documents you received from the course - record your own podcasts with Audacity (a free device to record audio) - store, update and change your pictures (with a free graphic application) - create and build your own websites (with NvU) - browse the web with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome
The ITC-ILO toolbox shows that off-line mobile computing is possible by just connecting your USB key with any laptop or computer. It also makes open source software accessible for everybody who participated in an ITC-ILO learning activity.
