Web 2.0 and Regenerative Education

Interactive and participatory learning systems are being facilitated by web 2.0 technology that enables computer literate groups to transcend the old student teacher relationship and create learning networks.

Organizations like Gaia University are optimizing this trend to empower action learning for eco-social regeneration.

Within the Gaia University Community there is an active discussion about what software tools can best empower our collaboration for effective knowledge sharing, knowledge management, and project management.

Gaia E Learning Platform Digiphon (by Patrick Gibbs)

SERVER
- Moodle 1.9.3+ (full version number another day) with modifications by Moodlerooms
- I don't know what operating system Moodlerooms uses

ME
- Mac OS 10.4.11 (occasionally boot into Fedora 8, 9, or 10, which are linux distributions)
- Firefox 3 for browsing
- SeaMonkey for composing HTML (sometimes use other apps)
- Smultron for editing code
- Cyberduck for occasional FTP
- a wrist brace so that I don't get a repetitive stress injury, or worsen the one I already got from the GEL site.
- sleepless nights
- patience, lots of patience, and long walks and RC when the patience wears out
- breaks every hour for jump roping (only seems to happen when I'm well organized)

OTHER
- plenty of internet infrastructure in between me and that server, though I guess that's not digital, it's physical (or whatever isn't digital)

To meet the Gaian communities strenuous needs is truly a test



Here are some design parameters for the digital interface for Gaia U's global, opensource community of action learners:

• quick learning curve
• usable interface
• accessible to low bandwidth users
• effective support for multi-media documentation
• searchable
• tagable
• full feature profile
• chat function
• forum function
• premier blogging function
• online course platform
  

Here are a few of the options we are looking at, and the pluses and minuses from my perspective as a learner, teacher and collaborator within the context of a global network woven together by web 2.0 technology.

• Elgg
• Ning
• Dolphin
• Mahara

So far I have the most experience with ning, having built several social networks including"
Alaska Permaculture.


Ning is very usable, but does not quite have the built in functionality for posting up academic style work in a full featured portfolio. It interfaced correctly with moodle that would quickly change. Ning has a very large support community, and there are several ning networks devoted solely to the exploration of social networking technology as it applies to education. Classroom 2.0, and ning in education are two such networks, showing cases new uses of technology in classrooms. While class room 2.0 does not quite have an educational constructivist focus, there is a wealth of interesting applications of new technology to virtual and non-virtual education.


Elgg is similar to ning, although it is open source, which scores it points because it allows developers to alter the code for individual need. It looks quite nice, but from reviews on at least one forum, it sounds like the learning curve is a bit steeper and longer than ning. Eduspaces is a elgg powered social network for e-learning.




Dolphin seems to be mostly built to enable social connections: online dating, affinity groups and networks. With no mention of education, it seems similar to ning. I have no real experience with dolphin.




Mahara seems to have a very functional plateform for creating portfolios and sharing real work. With this as a focus it sounds like a good fit. Ning, Dolphin and Elgg are all designed more for the social networking aspect, and with a focus on sharing information, Mahara sounds like it might be a better fit for a functioning community learning site. In this sample portfolio, built using Mahara, it is easy to see how information can be effectily organized. What is missing is any inkling of mahara's social networking capacity.

Commentary:
On potential draw back is the zest and vigor that a social networking site with sex appeal can bring. Increases usage brings more attention to creating great work. Imagine turning the collective attention of every facebook user to something useful. That kind of collective intelligence would be enormous. Portfolio sharing is only one facet of what it would take to make a participatory and interactive online learning community really thrive. Other criteria like usability and ability to network effectively play key roles in increasing the time spent online.

This is a fine line to walk however. Gaia Unversity is not trying to create something that is going to suck people in like facebook. We are looking for an effective and efficient means to share and disperse information, to host meaningful discussions and share new ideas and connections. in this way, leaning away from oversexed designs makes good sense. Unfortunately often times it seems like as we look away form the sexyness of many social networking platforms, the alternatives have not been designed for usability. A key criteria for success is usability and the ease of non-computer literate users to use the E Learning site as a bridge to further use of digital technology.

all this said, Mahara looks like it warrants the most attention because of its particular focus.