CREATING INNOVATIVE LEARNING SPACES: ‘WIKI-ING’ OUR WAY TO E-LEARNING IN FUTA
Peter A. AborisadeGeneral Studies UnitFederal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
Context
FUTA is some 10,000 students; c. ¼ are fresh students
LT in Large class situation - (Coleman, 1989; LoCastro, 2001);
Setting: class structure, time-tabling, teachers v students
EAP necessity: EST; lack of motivation
Low teacher & student ICT access, ability; high interestE-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal
2May 2009
From F2F teacher-centred classroom … Teacher as source of knowledge Teacher talk time Teacher as dictator Students passive consumers Mute voices Rote learning - “Le cram, la pour”
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal3May 2009
To … Blended student-centred learning spaces …
Teacher facilitates … Curriculum design Group building Activity/task setting Materials selection
Monitors … Team work Task/activity
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal4May 2009
Blended Student-centred philosophy
CLT: process-product, problem-solution (Dudley-Evans, 1984; Hopkins, 1988; Bloor and St John,1988; Hyland and Hyland, 1992)
Task-based (Hyland and Hyland, 1992)Interactional (Candlin, 1987)Socio-cultural, constructivist: learning in
social context (Vygotsky, 1978)Technology as tool (Beatty, 2003; Dudeney &
Hockly, 2007)E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal
5May 2009
Technology Support
Using the Wiki as collaborative learning tool in large classes:
to support & stimulate learning Encourage students to make
effective use of ICT in academic work Provide meaningful activities that
foster autonomy and collaboration
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 6May 2009
Learning Spaces
Large Classrooms or lecture theatres
Out of class group working spaces
Online group working spaces
Online individual writing/editing on group pages
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 7May 2009
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FUTA Model
Socio-cultural, constructivist :
F2F +
Online using Web 2.0 collaborative Wiki=
BLENDED LEARNING
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http://futagns.pbwiki.com
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal12May 2009
Processes
Teachers StudentsTD meetings; ICT
educationSupervise group
building
Set up student group pages
Upload student listsFacilitate team bonding
Preparation for ICT learning skills
Assignment of group roles
Upload roles, emails on group pages
Access tasks/activities, attach answers to pages
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal13May 2009
Processes
Teachers Students Upload tasks/activities Monitor team work
on group pages Post comments on
activities Track and Assess
group activities
Put up aspects of term paper, outline on page
Edit, add to group work
Post comments on other groups’ pages
Post reflective comments on front page
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal14May 2009
Outcomes
Students are able to write term papers (academic genre) after investigation of issues
Students’ ICT skills improved Students use the computer and
internet for academic purposes Students interact more in L2
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Students’ views (Wiki front page)
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 16
the site is informative and educative........ this is great.....ideas rules the world..
May 2009
Students’ views (Wiki front page)
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 17
A very demanding course, interesting and educative,
though. This session's quite different. Got virtually all
100L students working real hard on the term paper. Its also an insight into writing
reports and projects.
May 2009
Students’ views (Wiki front page)
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 18
This course affords students the rare opportunity of team work experience on the world wide web. I think its the beginning of better days ahead for Nigerian student if innovations as these are imbibed in our academic culture. Its simply wonderful!
May 2009
Challenges
Great expectations for all, from all! ICT infrastructure ‘Inadequate’ learning technologists Technology support uptake by faculty Pedagogy Technology vendors Assessment matters
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal19May 2009
Web 2.0 Tool
Very useful tool Simple to learn/use Fosters collaboration No longer free, except for small
groups … but there are others … We all should try it
E-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 20May 2009
E N D!
THANK YOU ALLE-learning Africa, Dakar, Senegal 21May 2009