R+I in e-learning

Description

eKnowledge is an online forum tool that lets users create venues for asynchronous collaboration and communication between students and tutors. The project involves a user-based design concept, and a flexible and collaborative learning model. Development has been based on the open-source phpBB Forums platform.

eKnowledge is an eLearn Center innovation project developed in collaboration with the UOC’s Office of Learning Technologies. The design of eKnowledge has involved faculty from the UOC’s Information and Communication Sciences; IT, Multimedia and Communications; Economics and Business Studies, and Psychology and Education Sciences departments.

Objectives

• Improve knowledge sharing and communication.

• Aid interaction and information management.

• Support the assessment and monitoring process.

• Encourage use of collaborative learning methodologies.

• Facilitate development of social knowledge building and shared reflection processes.

Actions

A pilot test was carried out with students and tutors in 11 subject classrooms from different departments during the first semester of the academic year 2010-2011. In total, over 200 students, 15 tutors and 8 lecturers took part.

A second pilot test is scheduled for the second semester of the academic year 2010-2011 which will involve more people on the master’s degrees in Free Software and Business Intelligence and assess the scalability of the tool before it is incorporated on to the UOC Campus. Likewise, the aim is to evaluate use of certain of the tool’s functions in learning situations that respond to a specific methodological design, such as collaborative learning or reflection and knowledge building based on a given subject.

+ Contact the person responsible for the project:
Iolanda Garcia
igarciago@uoc.edu