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Unit of Competency: BSBEBUS303A – Participating in a Virtual Community

Introduction

With the rapid emergence and popularity of eLearning courses, organisations are finding that it increasingly important to identify the correct technological and multimedia options for their eLearning courses. The latest developments in Internet based technologies have included software that provides users with greater accessibility and social networking capabilities. In the past, it would require a skilled web designer to design a web page on the internet. With new technologies such as Weblogs, Wiki’s, RSS Readers and sites like MySpace and Facebook; people who are less skilled can now publish information on the internet themselves. Such new technologies have also now been used for eLearning purposes. In the following is a report that recommends the technological and multimedia options that are appropriate for the Participate in a Virtual Community module.

Key Characteristics of the Module

The structure of this module has been based upon the Cognitivist and Constructivist approaches to learning. When starting the module, learners are required to complete a pre-test that will help them to construct a contextual platform in their minds for the introduction of new ideas and concepts. Once the pre-test has been completed, learners will be given access to an Advance Organiser. A spider’s web image will be used in the Advance Organiser as a metaphor for networking in virtual communities, which will provide a visual representation of the relationships between the components of the module. In the Home Page, learners are given access to the Advance Organiser and other information regarding the module, including Learning Outcomes, the module structure and the benefits in completing the module.

Upon further review of the course, it has been determined that this module will be a group learning activity, as this would particularly underpin the Constructivist Orientation components of the module. Conducting this module with a group will also underpin the concept of joining a virtual community of online learners. In a group setting, group discussions can be made simultaneously and encourages Bandura’s social learning theory to occur (Delahaye 2005).

Recommended Technology Option

The eLearning technology that is recommended for this module is a Webinar such as; WebEx and gotomeeting.com. Webinars are a type of web conferencing tool that help people to conduct or participate in online seminars.

A Webinar is usually conducted “live” or synchronous with a person facilitating a training course. However, learners can view the presentation after the seminar without the chance to fully participate in the seminar. This corresponds with the Cognitivist approach to the module, as participants cannot progress to the latter stages of the module, without completing earlier ones; while still providing access for learners to view previously completed components.

According to Wikipedia, Webinars also have other capabilities and tools that engage learners that accommodate both the Cognitivist and Constructivist orientations of the module. They are:

1) Whiteboard with annotation, allowing the presenter or learners to make marks on items in the slide presentation. This allows for Constructivist oriented learning where learners can explore ideas and collaborate with each other.
2) Text Chat for live question and answer sessions which may be used in accordance with an exploratory Constructivist orientation that allow learners to further question and explore ideas.
3) Polls and Surveys which allow the presenter to conduct live multiple choice questions. These multiple choice questions would ideally be used at the conclusion of the components of the module in accordance with the Cognitive orientation.
4) Screen Sharing/desktop sharing/application sharing in which learners can view and mark on the same screen and applications that the presenter is using to allow for greater collaboration and social learning.

There are also other collaborative and interactive tools available in Webinars that will aid in the engagement of learners such as:

5) Sequential PowerPoint Slide Capabilities
6) Live video via a Webcam
7) VOIP capabilities for ‘real – time’ audio communication between users
Recording tool – for viewing at a later time

References

Delahaye, B.L. 2005, Human Resource Development: Adult Learning and Knowledge Management, 2nd edn, John Wiley and Sons Australia, Ltd., Milton.