1. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 1 Modeling the Communities of Practice of E-Learning “CoPEs” Azeddine Chikh Associate Professor University of Tlemcen, Algeria Lamia Berkani National Institute of Computer Science “INI” Algeria Akila Sarirete Lecturer and Cisco Coordinator, Effat College, Saudi Arabia Presented by Akila Sarirete

2. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 2 Objectives Extend the application of the (CoPs) Communities of Practice to the E-learning field The proposed category called CoPE The CoPE concepts have been illustrated through a case study within the European project of distance education CoseLearn

3. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 3 Presentation Overview Introduction to Community of Practice? Concept of Community of Practice of E-learning “CoPE” Case Study Conclusion and Perspectives

4. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 4 Managing New Functions Educational institutions are moving towards the use of the Internet for delivery, both on campus and at a distance Current technology hyper-change faces significant challenges… How to create a work environment that enable people to: Learn, Adapt, Share, Respond effectively to innovative systems How to manage new functions & structures

5. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 5 What is a CoP? Community of Practice CoP (Lave & Wenger, 1998) is a tool by which knowledge is owned in practice and whose main goal is learning It is about a group of professionals who gather and organize themselves, face to face or virtually, in order to: Share information and experience, related to their area of expertise, Exchange and cooperate in order to solve problems encountered in their activities, Learn from each other and develop their professional competencies Build knowledge and formulate best practices to be followed in the realization of their daily activities.

6. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 6 Characteristics of CoPs CoPs are characterized by three fundamental features How it functions? What it has Produced? A Mutual Engagement What it is about? A Shared Repository A Joint Enterprise To Transformation From Information

7. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 7 Community of E-learning (CoPE)

8. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 8 What is CoPE? A CoPE is a group of professionals in e-learning who gather, collaborate, and organize themselves face to face and mostly virtually in order to: Share information & techno-pedagogic experiences related to the development & use of Online Learning System (OLS) Exchange and cooperate in order to solve problems Build (improve and/or create) together techno- pedagogic knowledge and model the best practices to be followed in the realization of the OLS

9. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 9 What is a CoPE? (cont’ed) Develop competencies in engineering pedagogy; Promote the application of e-learning standards such as: IMS-LD for learning scenarios; IMS-LIP for learners description; IMS-LOM for pedagogical resources qualification; and SCORM for inter platforms exchanges; Define terminology, glossary, or ontology, conciliating the various views and articulating them around the above mentioned standards.

10. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 10 CoPE & Online Learning System A CoPE is a virtual space of exchange, sharing, and resolution of problems encountered by actors of e-learning during all phases of an online learning system life cycle

11. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 11 Learning Situations characterized by the collaborative aspect Problem Situation: find solutions to common problems encountered during the two phases of acquisition and utilization in LMS. Example: how to incorporate a Java Applet for a given exercise in Moodle LMS in order to make it interactive. Decision Situation: deciding on choosing between several alternatives during the acquisition phase or the validation of some results of the design. Example: What type of learning situation do we select in a specific course? Or what role do we choose to ensure a moderation activity in a given group (tutor/moderator-learner)? Project Situation: concerns the final build up and realization of the online learning system according to the acquisition cycle. Confrontation of individual practices allows the best practices to surface. Example: Development of an online learning system related to a course on system engineering for master students in computer science field

12. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 12 Components of a learning situation Actors with their roles Activities Learning environment

13. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 13 Roles in CoPE

14. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 14 CoPE Activities CoPE members carry out joint activities to exchange techno- pedagogical information Activities correspond to the stages of learning life cycle

15. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 15 CoPE Environment View Use of a specific environment intended to CoPEs Use of a generic environment intended to CoPs Use of an LMS environment type

16. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 16 CoPE vs. LMS CoPE is considered as a thinking space about e-learning activities. Find solutions to encountered problems and to favor practices of reuse and exchange between actors in terms of techno pedagogic knowledge and know-how. Strong relationship between CoPE and LMS LMS  CoPE exchange: support discussions inside CoPEs with real problem situations encountered in LMS, making the CoPE’s space more active ; CoPE  LMS exchange: consists to experiment the solutions, obtained in the COPE’s space, directly in LMS before reifying them in the CoPE memory.

17. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 17 Case Study CoPE developed and realized within the framework of the project of distance education CoseLearn “Switzerland Cooperation” Promote e-learning in a number of French- speaking countries in Africa CoseLearn program leads to the professional diploma (MIEL) of “International Master in E-learning” Principal actors of the project: Professors; Tutors; Administrators and Master candidates

18. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 18 Case Study (cont.) The problem situations: finding answers to the various questions encountered by the candidates during all their training and instruction, namely during the duties stated in various subjects as well as during the final project. The decisional situations: identifying the possible alternatives of design and development, and the criteria and/or the arguments necessary to the selection. The project situations : exchanging the practices, which appear by a viable know-how in terms of construction of the online education courses (best practices).

19. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 19 Conclusion & Perspectives Extend the application of the Communities of Practice (CoPs) to the e-learning field. The proposed category called CoPE is considered the center of reflection of techno- pedagogic practices and promotes collaborative and cooperative learning. The concepts related to CoPE have been illustrated through a case study developed and realized within the project of distance education program CoseLearn that leads to International Master in e-Learning.

20. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 20 Conclusion & Perspectives We plan to provide a specification language of the learning scenarios in CoPEs. This language will be based on IMS-LD The feasibility of exchanges (LMS  CoPE) is conditioned by a formal modeling of learning situations in their both sides. The IMS-LD language permits to model only the learning situations for LMS. Accordingly, a language of specification of learning situations within CoPEs is more than necessary

21. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 21 Problem Based Learning

22. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 22 Introduction Advancement in E-Learning... Currently expanding and becoming widely used in Education and Business of all scales Educational institutions are moving towards the use of the Internet for delivery, both on campus and at a distance. E-learning is the main delivery method for employees training Knowing, tacitly or explicitly, the principles of learning becomes imperative

23. The 4 th Annual Conference of Learning International Networks Consortium Amman, Jordan, October 28-30, 2007 23