Frances Long: BCED Critical Importance In a Virtual Organization

Why Critical to Learning? Online world changes rapidly, people have different skills to share Learning together: Feel safe to ask “stupid” questions Further topical investigation Group projects

Knowplace Environment Seldom f2f Rarely hear voices Very few photos Time Zones Are Important!

The Context All knowmates are ePeers and eMentors Mutual support is the norm in knowplace We support each other at different times with different topics, strategies and techniques Safety is key

Strong ePeer and eMentor relationships

Knowplace Intake Structure

People come to us through.... 1/4. OPEN knowplace 2/4. KnowWEEKS: topical weeks about working online with others 3/4. Topical Learning communities hosted in Knowplace 4/4. Courses offered through the public/private partnership between Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC Canada and knowplace.ca

1/4 Open knowplace Knowmates, knowmads, our colleagues and online friends host free & open online workshops Open

2/4 KnowWEEKS International knowmates host discussions about areas of interest to online guides Develop games on a shoestring Blogs? Podcasting

3/4 Topical Learning Communities ● Learnonline.knowplace.ca (career practitioner training) ● Game of Games (reach your goals) ● Power of How (communication)

4/.4Capilano College Program Structure The first course: Explore Communication Tools introduces them to the online learning culture and communication tools used in knowplace before moving into 1 of 8 programs.

4/4CapCollegeCertificate Programs Open Source Technical Support Open Source eCourse Design Open Source eModerator eTeach eCareer Coach eCourse Design eModerator Mixed Mode

4/4Capilano College Program Design In each Capilano College course knowmates connect with other knowmates in different phases of their programs using freeware instant message programs Knowmates connect virtually and create projects together

4/4 Capilano College Program Structure Consists of 9 two-week long courses The courses are rotated and offered every five months Required courses overlap between each certificate program Our knowmates often take more than one certificate program at a time

4/4Capilano College Program Requirements Knowmates must form, guide and support each other in two ePeer relationships; eMentors and knowmads support the epeers behind the scenes.

The Knowplace Continuum knowmates interact with each other on a continuum: knownewbie (just starting) knowmate (in the middle) Knowmentors (just finishing and /or returning for a visit) knowmads (those of us behind and in front of knowplace) Knowmates created theses names for us

KnowNewbies Are those people who are just entering our learning community. They: Are encouraged to make mistakes; Talk with each other virtually in real time; Are required to be active in our online learning culture and check in to the asynchronous community three times a day to read and post messages for courses and activities Explore virtual communities together through virtual field trips Participate in three group chats Are encouraged to connect what they learn with what they do

Knowmates Knowmates have finished their first course/activity with us and are encouraged to: Share excellent resources in our resource library; Provide mutual help; Make mistakes and learn together; Improve the open source learning management system used to house knowplace; Offer online workshops and lead discussions; and Openly criticize their learning process and provide constructive improvements

KnowMentors Knowmentors are those people who have either completed their certificate programs, or are almost finished with us. They are encouraged to: Make mistakes and learn together; Lead synchronous and/or asynchronous discussions about their applied project work; Use a variety of learning management systems and synchronous chat tools to demonstrate their knowledge and skills; Lend a hand to knownewbies; knowmates and the knowmads; Return to share their expertise in any courses they have taken previously Lead courses, and topic-specific discussions

KnowMads Knowmads are the people behind the scenes and in front of knowplace (facilitators and technical members). Knowmads: Work virtually and rarely see each other face-to-face; Constantly improve our courses, workshops and our learning management system based on the constructive criticism provided by the knowmates; Involve knowmates in the different faces of knowplace; Support the knownewbies, knowmates and knowmentors with their individual learning paths; and Form supportive virtual teams to work on specific problems Meet synchronously to activitate and stimulate knowplace Implement knowmate suggestions.

Fostering Relationships Tools & Techniques Members areas, Reconnect area, Safe areas to host projects and activities, Mailing lists, Community list serve, Resource library, polls, instant chat, asynchronous discussions G roup Project Work

Fostering Relationships Methods Knowmates host open weekend workshops Constant mingling of knowmates from different program and activity areas Knowmates hosted our first online conference: February 23 – 27, Open area to discuss the development of knowplace

Specific Requirements that foster, support and develop ePEER and ementor relationships When? After 4 Capilano College/knowplace courses, or when they feel safe to lead others

Mentor two knownewbies Lead an asynchronous discussion about a specific topic of their choice attended by knownewbies, knowmates Lead two synchronous chats that knownewbies, knowmates attend epeer discussions are monitored by a knowmad when requested How?

Matching Methods Knowmates are matched to knownewbies by: Degree of familiarity with the online community Personality requirements (eg: some work better with men than women) Experienced online communicators with knownewbie We do not include: Content expertise, Time zone, Professions

Knowplace Learning Community Philosophy 1/3 Relationship first/information second 2/3 Guide on the side, not sage on the stage 3/3 I want to be here!

1/3 Relationship First Information Second Our knowmates learn best when they feel safe to make mistakes; Their ideas are cherished and valued and assist others in their learning process. New knowledge is formed, linked and applied to their real life situations A strong relationship equals relevant and valuable information

2/3 Guide on the Side ~ Not ~ Sage on the Stage No-one person is an expert in everything! Online programs, software, and technology changes too often for one person to be the only expert We are equals who learn together Ideas and contributions are cherished and valued Every member is an expert in their own area

3/3 I want to be here! Constant interaction with people in different phases of their learning: content experts, facilitators, technical people, interact daily with our knownewbies, knowmates, and knowmentors that impact the learning community Different mix of vocations stimulate knowmate Different things happen all the time! My thoughts and comments bring about positive change in knowplace! I like the people I see here – I want to keep in touch with them!

Why ePeer and eMentorship? Because… It’s fun! It works!

Questions? Contact: Frances Long:

There's Knowplace like home: Our February 2005 conference site: Come and Visit with us!