Developing an Online Learning Community for Educational Technology Leaders: A Mixed Methods Study Jon M. Bellum Sandy Lathem University of Vermont Jon M. Bellum Sandy Lathem University of Vermont

VTcite.org Origins  Vermont Commons for Information Technology Educators  Organized by two state non-profits & University of Vermont  Funded through Title IID state-wide grant  Included 30 state educational technology leaders  Vermont Commons for Information Technology Educators  Organized by two state non-profits & University of Vermont  Funded through Title IID state-wide grant  Included 30 state educational technology leaders

Purpose of VTcite 1.Collect & develop resources to help technology planning 2.Provide strategies for professional development with technology 3.Build a strong catalog of content- based technology resources to meet state standards 1.Collect & develop resources to help technology planning 2.Provide strategies for professional development with technology 3.Build a strong catalog of content- based technology resources to meet state standards

The Tool Uses Drupal - open-source content management System ( Uses Drupal - open-source content management System (

Communities of Practice  Educational origins in Carmichael (1982), Fullan (1993), Astuto, et al. (1993) and in organizational theory in Senge (2000)  “groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis” Wenger, McDermott and Snyder(2002)  Educational origins in Carmichael (1982), Fullan (1993), Astuto, et al. (1993) and in organizational theory in Senge (2000)  “groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis” Wenger, McDermott and Snyder(2002)

Online Communities of Practice Four levels of online community Henry & Pudelko (2003) Cohesion Intentional Community of interest Goal-Oriented Community of interest Learners’ Community Community of Practice

The Study 1.Explored how the VTCite project supported the transformation of a goal-oriented community of educational technology educators into a state-wide community of practice; 2.Describes how the design of an open- source content management system facilitates professional learning communities to overcome geographical and professional isolation; 1.Explored how the VTCite project supported the transformation of a goal-oriented community of educational technology educators into a state-wide community of practice; 2.Describes how the design of an open- source content management system facilitates professional learning communities to overcome geographical and professional isolation;

Methodology Parallel mixed methods study Tashakkori & Teddlie (1998) Parallel mixed methods study Tashakkori & Teddlie (1998) Online Survey (quantitative) Analysis of Blogs (qualitative) Convergence Data were converged in the final analysis where instances of agreement and disagreement were identified between the quantitative and qualitative data (Creswell, 2003)

Findings (quantitative) Online Learning Communities (n=19)

Findings (quantitative) Online Tools (n=19)

Findings (qualitative)  10 of 30 participant blogs analyzed looking for emergent themes using Nvivo  Three themes emerged within the general concept of community evolution  10 of 30 participant blogs analyzed looking for emergent themes using Nvivo  Three themes emerged within the general concept of community evolution Community Evolution Personal Course Community as whole

Findings (qualitative) Themes  Personal  Participants expressed excitement  Caused them to reflect  Course  Expressed frustration with course structure but understood the need for common language  Community as Whole  Even with other distractions felt they did build a community though in its infancy “Whatever the final outcome… for VTcite to be successful, it will need continued support of those with the ‘fire in their bellies’” Themes  Personal  Participants expressed excitement  Caused them to reflect  Course  Expressed frustration with course structure but understood the need for common language  Community as Whole  Even with other distractions felt they did build a community though in its infancy “Whatever the final outcome… for VTcite to be successful, it will need continued support of those with the ‘fire in their bellies’”

Discussion  Community Evolution  Core vision was never fully developed  Course vs. Community Structure  The course distracted from the development of community, but community helped the course  Online Communities of Practice  They feel COPs need technology but they also need face-to-face meetings  Community Evolution  Core vision was never fully developed  Course vs. Community Structure  The course distracted from the development of community, but community helped the course  Online Communities of Practice  They feel COPs need technology but they also need face-to-face meetings

Next Steps  VTcite has been funded for Phase II ( )  Phase I participants will facilitate up to 50 new participants  More emphasis on community, then professional development  Will have a regional flavor with face-to-face meetings supported by the technology  Site will continue to be developed and new community administrators will be trained  VTcite has been funded for Phase II ( )  Phase I participants will facilitate up to 50 new participants  More emphasis on community, then professional development  Will have a regional flavor with face-to-face meetings supported by the technology  Site will continue to be developed and new community administrators will be trained