Learning while sharing experience in the BOLDIC network: methodological principles and practical implementation

1
Learning while sharing experience in the BOLDIC
network methodological principles and practical
implementation

• Audrone Valiuškeviciute(Vytautas Magnus
  university, Lithuania) andNiels Henrik
  Helms(University of Southern Denmark)

Riga, 18 March 2005
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Scope of the presentation

• The methodological principles for learning, while
  exchange of experience
• Methodological principles for international
  networking
• Networking activities at different levels of
  exchange
• Methodological requirements for the electronic
  platform

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The aim of the BOLDIC project is initiation of a
new tradition of exchange of experience in the
area of ODL

• Can such a personal and unique unity, as
  experience, be exchangeable?
• What kind of outputs/knowledge can be extracted
  from the experience and exchanged in the
  international network?
• How conceptualise and support the learning
  process facilitated by exchange of experience?

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The theoretical bases of learning by exchange of
experience in an international network

• Disseminative and constructionist concept of
  knowledge
• Typologies of knowledge (Scharmer, Jarvis, Flew
  and others)
• Kolbs Model of Experiential Learning
• Stuards Halls Model of Communication
• Typologies of network linkages from theory of
  communication networks (Monge, Contractor,
  Emerson, Pfeffer, Salancik and others)

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Exchangeability of knowledge

• Exchange or construct / develop knowledge what
  we are aiming at in the network?
• Know OF knowledge of people and places, Know
  THAT factual knowledge and Know HOW
  practical knowledge - are these exchanged in
  different ways?
• Migratory the only transferable modality of
  knowledge!
• Tacit dimension in practical knowledge,
  Embedded knowledge or Knowledge as Process
  rich, unique, contextual, not exchangeable!

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EXTRACTION PACKGING UTILIZATON
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Act of communication (S.Hall)
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Network linkages and types of networks

• The product resource linkage (market network)
• The migratory knowledge linkage (knowledge
  network)
• The shared meaning linkage (semantic network)
• The partnership linkage (collaborative action
  networks)

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The methodological framework as integration of
theoretical approaches

• Four levels of exchange differ in
• Conception and type of knowledge that is
  exchanged and / or constructed
• Characteristics of learning that take place in
  the network
• Communication processes
• Types of network linkages
• Forms / methods of networking activities.

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Four levels of exchange
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The 1st level
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The BOLDIC network at the 1st level will support

• Expansion of national ODL markets into
  Baltic-Nordic region
• Transferability (adoption and adaptation) of ODL
  products from one cultural-educational context to
  another one
• Flow of human resources among the Baltic and
  Nordic countries.

The BOLDIC example The information system about
ODL courses
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The 2nd level
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The BOLDIC network at the 2nd level will support

• Process of reflection, evaluation and description
  of ODL practice
• Transferability of know how from one
  cultural-educational context to another
• Learning from secondary experience (experience of
  others) and resource based learning.

The BOLDIC examples The BOLDIC brochure The
BOLDIC Award
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The 3rd level
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The BOLDIC network at the 3rd level will support

• Collaborative development / construction of
  knowledge
• Development of shared meaning structures within
  BOLDIC pedagogical tradition
• Expansion of national / local perceptions in
  multi-perspective communication.

The BOLDIC example The BOLDIC virtual confrence
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The 4th level
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The BOLDIC network at the 4th level will support

• Collaborative generation of new practices
  (innovation) and new knowledge
• Development of the ODL practice in Baltic and
  Nordic countries
• Learning from primary collaborative experience
• Integration / synergy of exchange processes at
  the 1st to the 3rd level.

The BOLDIC example The common project
initiatives within the Baltic-Nordic region
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Internal structure of network for learning while
sharing experience
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Conclusions further development of the framework

• The multidisciplinary studies on network theories
  and practices are needed (potentiality of new
  research project)
• Different networks should be identified, bought
  together and involved in order to develop the
  methodology and the framework
• Methodology should become more functional there
  is need to develop handbook for network
  developers.

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Conclusions the BOLDIC development and
sustainability

• The first important priority is to establish the
  BOLDIC collective action network (the 4th
  level), i.e. to formalize organization and
  develop the firm infrastructure for it.
• To initiate the second project round with three
  coordinated projects aimed at development of
  three types of networks
• market network (the 1st level),
• knowledge network ( the 2nd level) and
• semantic network (the 3rd level),
• under the umbrella of the BOLDIC collective
  action network
• The second project round should focus at
• the development of organizational models and
  specific infrastructure for three types of
  networks
• the expansion of network by involving new actors
  from participating countries.

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Requirements for platform design to implement the
1st level of exchange

• Web page
• Data base (unified meta-data) to structure and
  store information
• Search engine to enable sort and search for
  relevant information
• Self-registration to the system information
  providers are approved by national coordinators
• Decentralised update of information
• Free review of information (if not set only for
  network members)

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Requirements for platform design to implement the
2nd level of exchange

• Web page (case studies can be interlinked with
  the 1st level)
• Electronic journal
• Annual brochure
• Virtual library (links to useful materials)
• Web streaming (to access online presentations of
  best practice)

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Requirements for platform design to implement the
3rd level of exchange

• Supports different forms of communication
• Discussions on real time online meetings
• Resource or practical case based online
  conferences
• Video and audio conferences
• Free discussions etc
• Distinguishes levels of publicity 1) public, 2)
  only for registered event participants and 3) for
  network members

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Requirements for platform design to implement the
4th level of exchange

• Supports communication and collaboration
• Search for partners
• Exchange and generation of project ideas
• Online project groups, etc.

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It is time for self determination

• What level of the network to aim at?
• Do we have sustainable infrastructure for
  functioning the BOLDIC network in different
  levels?
• What practical solutions we do we see now?