Learning while sharing experience in the BOLDIC network: methodological principles and practical implementation Audronė Valiuškevičiūtė (Vytautas Magnus university, Lithuania) and Niels Henrik Helms (University of Southern Denmark) Riga, 18 March 2005

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

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? 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? 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? How conceptualise and support the learning process facilitated by exchange of experience?

The theoretical bases of learning by exchange of experience in an international network Disseminative and constructionist concept of knowledge Disseminative and constructionist concept of knowledge Typologies of knowledge (Scharmer, Jarvis, Flew and others) Typologies of knowledge (Scharmer, Jarvis, Flew and others) Kolb’s Model of Experiential Learning Kolb’s Model of Experiential Learning Stuard’s Hall’s Model of Communication Stuard’s Hall’s Model of Communication Typologies of network linkages from theory of communication networks (Monge, Contractor, Emerson, Pfeffer, Salancik and others) Typologies of network linkages from theory of communication networks (Monge, Contractor, Emerson, Pfeffer, Salancik and others)

Exchangeability of knowledge Exchange or construct / develop knowledge – what we are aiming at in the network? 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? “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! ‘Migratory’ the only transferable modality of knowledge! Tacit dimension in practical knowledge, ‘Embedded’ knowledge or ‘Knowledge as Process’ – rich, unique, contextual, not exchangeable! Tacit dimension in practical knowledge, ‘Embedded’ knowledge or ‘Knowledge as Process’ – rich, unique, contextual, not exchangeable!

Development of personal theories Conceptualization of practice Evaluation of practice CONCRETE EXPERIENCE OBSERVATION AND REFLECTION FORMATION OF ABSTRACT CONCEPTS TESTING IMPLICATIONS OF CONCEPTS IN NEW SITUATIONS Implementation of projects Gaining new experience Development concrete projects Inventory of best practice examples Reflections on practice Collection of elements of best practice Development of ideas how to improve practice Exploring perspectives for development practice Modeling ideal practice EXTRACTION PACKGING UTILIZATON

Frameworks of KNOWLEDGE 1 ENCODING meaning structures 1 DECODING meaning structures 2 Frameworks of KNOWLEDGE 2 “MEANINGFULL” DISCOURSE “Encoder” “Decoder” Act of communication (S.Hall) Coding different types of knowledge Cultural dependent meaning structures PROBLEMS FOR KNOWLEDGE SHARING

Network linkages and types of networks The product & resource linkage (market network) The product & resource linkage (market network) The migratory knowledge linkage (knowledge network) The migratory knowledge linkage (knowledge network) The shared meaning linkage (semantic network) The shared meaning linkage (semantic network) The partnership linkage (collaborative action networks) The partnership linkage (collaborative action networks)

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

Four levels of exchange The 1 st level Exchange outputs from experience Product linkages The 2 nd level Exchange of reflected experience Knowledge linkages The 3 rd level Communicative development of new knowledge Shared meaning linkages The 4 th level Collaborative development of new practical experience Partnership linkages Migratory knowledge Embedded knowledge

CONCRETE EXPERIENCE OBSERVATION AND REFLECTION FORMATION OF ABSTRACT CONCEPTS TESTING IMPLICATIONS OF CONCEPTS IN NEW SITUATIONS Inventory of best practice examples search for practical solutions implementation of solutions Collecting elements of best practice Extraction Utilization Exchange of information about outputs form practice Coding Decoding The 1 st level

The BOLDIC network at the 1 st level will support Expansion of national ODL markets into Baltic-Nordic region; Expansion of national ODL markets into Baltic-Nordic region; Transferability (adoption and adaptation) of ODL products from one cultural- educational context to another one; 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. Flow of human resources among the Baltic and Nordic countries. The BOLDIC example: The information system about ODL courses

CONCRETE EXPERIENCE OBSERVATION AND REFLECTION FORMATION OF ABSTRACT CONCEPTS TESTING IMPLICATIONS OF CONCEPTS IN NEW SITUATIONS Initiated Extraction Individual Implementation Exchange of reflected / theoretical knowledge The 2 nd level Development of personal theories Reflections on practice Development of ideas how to improve practice Conceptualization of practice Evaluation of practice Exploring perspectives for development practice Modeling ideal practice Inventory of best practice examples Implementation of projects Gaining new experience Development concrete projects Collecting elements of best practice

The BOLDIC network at the 2 nd level will support Process of reflection, evaluation and description of ODL practice; Process of reflection, evaluation and description of ODL practice; Transferability of ‘know how’ from one cultural-educational context to another; Transferability of ‘know how’ from one cultural-educational context to another; Learning from secondary experience ( experience of others ) and resource based learning. Learning from secondary experience ( experience of others ) and resource based learning. The BOLDIC examples: The BOLDIC brochure The BOLDIC Award

CONCRETE EXPERIENCE OBSERVATION AND REFLECTION FORMATION OF ABSTRACT CONCEPTS TESTING IMPLICATIONS OF CONCEPTS IN NEW SITUATIONS Development of personal theories Inventory of best practice examples Reflections on practice Development of ideas how to improve practice Conceptualization of practice Evaluation of practice Exploring perspectives for development practice Implementation of projects Gaining new experience Development concrete projects Collecting elements of best practice Modeling ideal practice The 3 rd level Construction of new knowledge in act of communication

The BOLDIC network at the 3 rd level will support Collaborative development / construction of knowledge; Collaborative development / construction of knowledge; Development of shared meaning structures within BOLDIC pedagogical tradition; Development of shared meaning structures within BOLDIC pedagogical tradition; Expansion of national / local perceptions in multi-perspective communication. Expansion of national / local perceptions in multi-perspective communication. The BOLDIC example: The BOLDIC virtual confrence

CONCRETE EXPERIENCE OBSERVATION AND REFLECTION FORMATION OF ABSTRACT CONCEPTS TESTING IMPLICATIONS OF CONCEPTS IN NEW SITUATIONS Development of personal theories Inventory of best practice examples Reflections on practice Development of ideas how to improve practice Conceptualization of practice Evaluation of practice Exploring perspectives for development practice Implementation of projects Gaining new experience Development concrete projects Collecting elements of best practice Modeling ideal practice Collaborative generation of new practices The 4 th level

The BOLDIC network at the 4 th level will support Collaborative generation of new practices (innovation) and new knowledge; Collaborative generation of new practices (innovation) and new knowledge; Development of the ODL practice in Baltic and Nordic countries; Development of the ODL practice in Baltic and Nordic countries; Learning from primary collaborative experience; Learning from primary collaborative experience; Integration / synergy of exchange processes at the 1 st to the 3 rd level. Integration / synergy of exchange processes at the 1 st to the 3 rd level. The BOLDIC example: The common project initiatives within the Baltic-Nordic region

4th level 3rd level 2nd level 1st level Internal structure of network for learning while sharing experience Market network Knowledge network Semantic network Collaborative action network

Conclusions: further development of the framework The multidisciplinary studies on network theories and practices are needed ( potentiality of new research project ); 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; 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. Methodology should become more functional; there is need to develop handbook for network developers.

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

Requirements for platform design to implement the 1 st level of exchange Web page; Web page; Data base (unified meta-data) to structure and store information; Data base (unified meta-data) to structure and store information; Search engine to enable sort and search for relevant information; Search engine to enable sort and search for relevant information; Self-registration to the system; information providers are approved by national coordinators; Self-registration to the system; information providers are approved by national coordinators; Decentralised update of information; Decentralised update of information; Free review of information (if not set ‘only for network members’) Free review of information (if not set ‘only for network members’)

Requirements for platform design to implement the 2 nd level of exchange Web page (case studies can be interlinked with the 1 st level); Web page (case studies can be interlinked with the 1 st level); Electronic journal; Electronic journal; Annual brochure; Annual brochure; Virtual library (links to useful materials); Virtual library (links to useful materials); Web streaming (to access online presentations of best practice) Web streaming (to access online presentations of best practice)

Requirements for platform design to implement the 3 rd level of exchange Supports different forms of communication: Discussions on real time online meetings; Discussions on real time online meetings; Resource or practical case based online conferences; Resource or practical case based online conferences; Video and audio conferences; Video and audio conferences; Free discussions; etc Free discussions; etc Distinguishes levels of publicity: 1) public, 2) only for registered event participants and 3) for network members

Requirements for platform design to implement the 4 th level of exchange Supports communication and collaboration Search for partners; Search for partners; Exchange and generation of project ideas; Exchange and generation of project ideas; Online project groups, etc. Online project groups, etc.

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