New contents for Resource Area 2: The "KLearn" tutorial tools

08-November-2006

[ arenas for piloting , knowledge sharing , WLP Web ]
n a previous posting I have presented briefly my idea on five "Resource Areas" as the content areas for WLP Web. This posting updates the prior blog entry on "Resource Area 2 - The KLearn tutorial tools'.
In my previous characterisation of the resource area that presents our work with the "KLearn" tools I have used the expression 'simulation cabin' to illustrate how the original idea ofdeveloping a light-weight learning management system has changed. At present the results of this work can best be made available as a tutorial area.

The attached documents are the first reworked "KLearn tools" that provide the basis orientation for the subsequent steps.

The next steps (and the related presentations) are dealing with
  • contextualisation of learning (support for individual learning; shaping the organisational preconditins)
  • positioning of learning arrangements (between traditional didactic concepts and open learning designs)
  • customisation of learning arrangements (in the light of local circumstances and related strategic choices).

The presentations are relatively open for different country contexts and therefore need some further interpretation when used as a basis for workshops or training measures. Yet, I believe that there is a need to complete the series (the groundwork has already been done in July and August).

Pekka Kämäräinen



Pekka Kämäräinen; 08-November-2006 12:41:03 forum (0)

Building the WLP Resource Area 5: WLP Partners' Areas

19-October-2006

[ arenas for piloting , knowledge sharing , WLP Web ]
One of the main aims of the WLP project has been to provide support for piloting and dissemination in participating countries with their respective native language. In different phases of the project history this idea has been related to somewhat different views on "WLP Web" and on 'piloting. Now, in the final stage the proposal is to launch "WLP Partners' Areas" for the kind on piloting and/or dissemination needs that can be served in the remaining time.
In the earlier phase of the WLP project the work with web-based resources was tied up with a common heading "WLP Web". Therefore, the project expected to develop a common concept that could be transferred to diverse countries. As a result, the earlier steps to prepare the grounds for such piloting were taken under the headings "WLP Web testing areas" or "WLP Web piloting areas". Now, a few months later this seems an anachronism. It seems obvious that the national partners should have had their own areas for piloting and/or dissemination purposes and that both approaches are helpful for the project.

At this late moment it is possible make some remarks how to use WLP Partners' Areas to strengthen the project:

The Italian Piloting Forum has been built as the basic case for such areas and it should be developed further as support for the ongoing Italian piloting  activities.

The UK partners have made available a lot of video material that would overwhelm the joint WLP Multimedia Resources. Therefore, there is a case to consider how to make use of such material as contributions to the joint multimedia resources and to the UK Dissemination Forum (?).

The French partners have made available video material that will be made available as English language versions in the WLP Multimedia Resources area. The French language versions should be made available on the French Dissemination Forum.

The Slovenian partners are producing video material for the joint WLP Multimedia resources and text material for the case stories. The original Slovenian langage versions should be made available on the Slovenian Dissemination Forum.

The Estonian partners are exploring their possibilities to develop the Estonian Dissemination Forum that would support their pre-piloting activities.

The German coordination team is exploring the possibilities to provide German-language material for the German Dissemination Forum.

The dissemination forums should link back to the oher Resource Areas of the WLP project.



Pekka Kämäräinen; 19-October-2006 21:28:04 forum (0)

Building the WLP Resource Area 4: WLP Multimedia resources

19-October-2006

[ arenas for piloting , knowledge sharing , WLP Web ]
The WLP project had also at is intial stage realised that multimedia resources will play a greater role in learning and knowledge sharing. Yet, until recently the production of multimedia resources was not a widely spread and widely accessed hobby among educationalists. In the course of time this has changed and the production of multimedia resource has become closer to other forms of projet work.
The role of multimedia resources was originally thought to be that of a relatively marginal illustration of the project activities that rely primarily on written documents. However, as has been the case with web-based resources in general, the WLP project has had to reconsider the role and the usability of multimedia resources.

From this perspective it appears to be resonable to emphasise the role of WLP multimedia resources as a specific resource area that is developed alongside other knowledge resources.

More on this soon ...

Pekka Kämäräinen

Pekka Kämäräinen; 19-October-2006 21:00:57 forum (0)

Building the WLP Resource Area 2: WLP tools to support planning of partnership cooperation ("KLearn")

19-October-2006

[ arenas for piloting , knowledge sharing , WLP Web ]
Regarding the use of web-based tools, platforms and resources the WLP project has been in the middle of different influences. On the one hand there are readily packaged products that require the users to step in readily shaped 'cyberspaces'. On the other hand there is a new movement on Personal Learning Environments with an attemp to put the users into the centre of planning process. The outcome of the WLP project is something between - a 'simulation cabin' that helps the users to take steps towards development of own solutions.
The WLP project has taken an effort to develop a light-weight tool that brings together some elements of e-portfolios (support for indvidual learners), Personal Learning Environments (support for developers of learning opportunities) and Learning Management Systems (support for organisers of learning provisions). This integrative approach was named "KLearn" (promoting Knowledge on your Learning). However, very soon it became clear that the KLearn approach needs to address questions on contextualisation, profiling and customisation in order to support real planning processes. At the same time the progress towards piloting proceeded in different ways and with different pace in the participating countries.

As a consequence, the 'KLearn' approach is being reshaped into a "simulation cabin" that helps the partnership developers to get first insights into the planning process and to deepen their view gradually. Thus, the simulation cabin provides different chambers for getting acquainted with the planning issues.

The entry chamber presents the KLearn tools 1a and 1b for basic orientation into the WLP ideas and into the planning process.
The beginners' chamber presents the KLearn tools 2a and 2b for contextualising the planning at the level of Individual Learning or Organisational Measures.
The profiling chamber presents the KLearn tools 3A and 3B for reflecting upon different strategic options (traditional didactic designs or openlearning designs).
The developers' chamber presents the KLearn tools 4a and 4b for finding customised and personalised solutions for the local learning context.
The exit chamber presents the KLearn tools 5a and 5b for linking the planning issues to developmental work outside the WLP project.

Thus, the current view on the KLearn tools has tried to maintain the simplicity of the initial idea and yet to respond to the growing complexity that is encountered in the developmental work.

In this context it is worthwhile to note that the shaping of the KLearn tools has shadowed the developmental work that has been described in the WLP case stories.

Pekka Kämäräinen

Pekka Kämäräinen; 19-October-2006 20:13:08 forum (0)

Building the WLP Resource Area 1: WLP tools for preparatory analyses

19-October-2006

[ arenas for piloting , knowledge sharing , WLP Web ]
In the initial phase of the WLP roject the work with "Learning Potential Analysis" was given a central role. The experience of the project has made it necessary to take a broader look at the preparatory measures. From this perspective there is a need to link the use of analytical tools to creation of partnership-oriented cooperation spirit. This emphasies the importance of joint workshops and of the role of workshop facilitators.
In the early phase of the WLP project the work with Learning Potential Analysis was crucial for getting insights into different working environments and into related prospects for promoting cooperation in workplace learning However, at that time the project did not have common tools for supporting the initial discussions between training providers and enterprises. In particular there were no common tools for tackling possible obstacles and for bringing into picture relevant experience from similar cases.

From this perspective it has become crucial to develop a broader gallery of tools for preparatory analyses. My proposal is that the Resource Area 1 should include (in addition to the LPA tool and the parallel LAR tool) the following tools for workshop facilitators:
Facilitators' tool 1: Scenarios for workplace learning and partnership development
Facilitators' tool 2: Scenarios for web-based learning and networked learning arrangements
Facilitators' tool 3: Readiness to use web-based and local learning resources
Facilitators' tool 4: Readiness to particapate in the organisation of partnership-based learning.

Each of these tools deals with a tension between potentials (that partnership-based cooperation offers) and obstacles (that are there for various reasons).  The tools are based on simple questions that can be linked to different strategic choices. The commentary space invites the facilitator to make use of other WLP resources (in order to bring the discussion further).

If the preparatory discussions find a way forward, this leads to questions how to plan the common activities.

Pekka Kämäräinen


Pekka Kämäräinen; 19-October-2006 19:16:30 forum (0)

Building the WLP Resource Areas - Introduction

19-October-2006

[ knowledge sharing , project planning , WLP Web ]
With my recents postings ("Getting the act together") to the blog WLP project management I have made some proposals how to bring the WLP project to a mature phase. These proposals have dealt with the country studies, process development and the architecture of the WLP website (see the attachment). With this posting (and a series of others to come) I try to put the users to the centre with a question: "How to make the knowledge resources of the WLP project work together?"
In the recent period I have had to give a lot of thoughts on the work that has been undertaken and on the results that are coming up on the WLP project. As I have emphasised on various occasions, the WLP project has gone through a period during which it has had to modify its work programme. In this context the project has had to reconsider what is possible to achieve when the underlying ideas have met obstacles and work has taken somewhat different course.

The major conceptual change that has occurred has been a transition from
a) separate 'packaged knowledge resources' to 'networked knowledge resources' and from
b) separate 'e-learning platforms' (in their own sphere) to 'working and learning with web-based resources'.

From this perspective I try to make transparent what is special (from the users' point of view) in the Resource Areas that we are building in the WLP project. To me the idea is growing gradually on the drawing board but it is difficult to communicate if the discussion focuses on single Resource Areas or single tools or single knowledge elements.

In the subsequent postings I try to give a picture of the building of mutually complementing resource areas that cover the following resources:
Resource Area 1: The preparatory tools for analyses of the preconditions for partnership creation,
Resource Area 2: The KLearn planning tools that provide a 'simulation cabin' for getting insights into partnership development,
Resource Area 3: The case stories that present  WLP partners' experiences on piloting and/or their insights into development of partnership-based cooperation in their countries,
Resource Area 4: The WLP Multimedia resources that provide video and audio materials on issues that are central for the WLP project and for learning from each other,
Resource Area 5: The WLP Partners' Areas that provide specific web areas for piloting (e.g. The Italian Piloting Forum) and dissemination (e.g. The Slovenian Dissemination Forum).

In the following postings the building of these resource areas is being discussed alongside the development of the materials. The idea is make the knowledge resource work togethether within the areas and across the areas.

Pekka Kämäräinen

Pekka Kämäräinen; 19-October-2006 18:45:30 forum (0)