SCoPE Community

Essential Elements for Informal Learning

Sylvia Currie, SFUHeather Ross, SIAST

Met in person for the first timetoday!

Overview

• Background of SCoPE

• Elements, emphases, and catalysts

• Evidence that SCoPE is a virtual learning community

• The work that is needed

About SCoPE

• Launch fall, 2005• Free, open to the public• Identify and build on SFU interests and

expertise and also serve an international audience

• Encourage the use of SCoPE for research on online communities

Starting Point

• Simple, web-based environment• Essential communication tools• Careful not to “over design” before launch• Began with discussion about the community• Core activity: monthly seminar discussions• Designed for busy people

– No obligations– No guilt allowed!

Elements of Communities

Selznik (1996)• Historicity• Identity• Mutuality• Plurality• Autonomy• Participation• Integration

Schwier (2001) -

Virtual Learning Communities

• An orientation to the future

• Technology• Learning

Historicity

• “Let's get started. I really liked how Richard set up the last seminar so I'm going to do something similar.” (Heather Ross - 5 November 2006)

• “In the last seminar on online facilitation, Nick and Sylvia used some tools to give us an ‘at a glance’ overview of the discussions. We’ll also be using these tools in this session.” Therese Weel 4 April, 2007

Identity• Discussions about SCoPE• Vote on name, logo• Members’ blogs• Appreciation of contributions: “I want to

acknowledge David for sharing his cogent notes on our seminar so far. They provide a useful and succinct picture of where we’ve been and where else we might go… (Sarah Haavind 2 June, 2006)

• Profiles

Participation• 880 members• 43 countries• 28 members have

volunteered to facilitate seminars

• 16 Special Interest Groups have been created

• 3,531 posts• 99,211 guest views

Autonomy

In keeping with the tradition at SCoPE, newcomers, latecomers, lurkers, and passersby are always

welcomed!

• Not all participants are visible • Opportunity to become familiar with the culture• Model respectful communication• To date zero instances of inappropriate behaviour

Plurality & Mutuality- Encourage association with related

groups- Reciprocity / mutual exchange of

services and interests- Bringing in knowledge and

examples from outside groups

Technology: Access and Communication

• Different modes and levels of engagement– Email subscriptions to

forums– RSS– Invisible presence– Archives– Incidental learning– Spontaneous entry

into a discussion

“Been lurking asynchronously, but

my activation threshold has been reached and I have to jump in with some

desultory comments.”

Corrie Bergeron - 26 January 2007

Technology: Co-Construction

• Smartcopy/ referencing• Wikis• 3rd party tools• Cross-referencing

earlier forums• Marginalia for

tracking/summarizing• Search by individual

forum or entire group

Future• Members decide the future

– Ideas for seminar topics emerge through participation

– Special interest groups to continue discussions

• Unlike traditional courses with start and end dates, SCoPE continues and is shaped by members’ interests

Learning

“SCoPE is such an amazing learning environment. See you on the 4th!”

(Ian McLeod 2 April 2007)

Sharing knowledge in workplaces and local communities (plurality)

Integration

The work that is needed

• Organize discussion threads for casual participation

• Management of resources generated through participation

• Porous boundaries• Continue to advance our work together• Celebrate our accomplishments

Join us!

http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca