The Project Method e-course: the use of tools towards the evolution of the Greek teachers' online community. (14th January 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vivitsou, Marianna; Lambropoulos, Niki; Konetas, Dimitris; Paraskevas, Michael; , Evangelos Grigoropoulos
• Is Part Of: International journal of continuing engineering education and lifelong learning. Volume 18:Number 1(2008)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2008-01-14
• Subjects: collaborative learning -- critical thinking -- Web 20 -- open source software -- OSS -- Moodle -- communities of practice -- online communities -- web based communities -- Greece -- e-learning -- online learning -- virtual communities -- social learning -- intranet -- Greek teachers -- collaboration -- critical reflection; Engineering -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 620.00715
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1560-4624

Abstract

The second web generation (Web 2.0) opens up new perspectives for community building through communication and collaboration. Open Source Software (OSS) have contributed to the viability of educational courses and extended the potential of online learning. Yet, if the aim is to provide users with a dynamic context allowing collective intelligence to emerge, not only is the development of appropriate learning environments required but also the integration of a flexible pedagogical scenario. For the purposes of this paper, the authors focus on a pilot e-course implemented on the Greek teachers' national intranet e-learning platform aiming to provide evidence that the transition from an information retrieval situation to a social learning situation requires the mediation of improved OS systems. In these, design should aim for the encouragement of the users' cognitive and social presence so that knowledge can be constructed through collaboration and critical reflection within an active online community.