1. © European Communities, 2007 New Learning Paradigms The Impact of Social Computing Innovations on E&T in Europe Contact: Christine Redecker, Kirsti Ala-Mutka & Yves Punie European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies +34 954 48 8318 Fax: +34 954 48 8300 E-mail: Christine.Redecker@ec.europa.eu, Kirsti.Ala-Mutka@ec.europa.eu, Yves.Punie@ec.europa.eu L earning & A chieving S ociety D iversity N etworking nnovation Digital technologies have profoundly changed learning patterns, giving rise to new learning paradigms. Social computing applications like blogs, wikis and social networking sites provide new opportunities for education and training (E&T), and thus support pedagogical, organisational and technological innovation. Looking at current practice, a number of different – though overlapping – innovative ways of deploying social computing in E&T can be discerned; these together give rise to new areas for innovation in learning, or iLANDS. i nnovation Technological Innovation New solutions for information storage, retrieval, management and exchange; New subject specific tools and methods; Visual & auditive learning; mobile learning. Pedagogical Innovation Empowerment of the learner: New learning methods & pathways; collaboration & personalisation lever achievement & cognitive skills; learning is emotional, engaging, social Organisational Innovation E&T institutions become: Transparent & accessible service providers; Global places for discovery; Social communities, transcending place & time Key Impact Areas & Opportunities for Future Learning in a Digital Society Policy Implications E&T institutions need to respond to changed learning paradigms in a digital society and should seize the opportunities offered by social computing (SC) in facilitating innovation and creativity. Policy should (1) support the use of ICT for learning; (2) improve the availability and accessibility of SC tools to all teachers and learners; (3) facilitate the development of adequate curricula and assessment standards; (4) promote teacher training and networking activities to disseminate good practices; and (5) ensure that all learners and teachers are endowed with the necessary skills to benefit from the use of modern communication technologies. Learning Achieving Networking Diversity Society Individual performance raised by → addressing different sensory channels → collaboration, personalisation, reflection → increasing motivation, participation New and innovative ways of → accessing & managing information → investigating & studying a subject → personalising learning pathways Learning Communities → facilitate knowledge exchange → contribute to positive working atmosphere → can supplement formal learning Social Computing can contribute to → intercultural understanding → personal development → civic competences In institutional E&T, SC supports → access, transparency & control → (re-)integration of E&T into society → shift of power towards the learner Teaching Practice Personal Development Higher Education Vocational Training Secondary Education Primary Education Teacher Training Information Society Unit