Wikiversity learning model/Reading group

Welcome to the Wikiversity learning model reading group, which is open to anyone who would like to participate, however actively or occasionally. This group is intended to find readings that are relevant to the kinds of learning or pedagogical models used in wikis - as well as those envisaged for Wikiversity in the Wikiversity learning model - and to read selected readings (or passages from readings), and post comments and reflections to be discussed and critiqued by other group members. In this way, it is hoped that this group can develop an understanding of how educational theories can contribute to the Wikiversity learning model, as well as about how learning models are developed and utilised in practice. This group is also intended to complement the more general discussion group around the Wikiversity learning model. However, it should be noted that readings can be as academic or informal as you like - there is no obligation to be reading educational theory.

Note: this group is just emerging, so please edit and/or comment in order to make it more useful.

On finding and deciding on models

 * See: Ivan Illich on learning webs - discussion on chapter 6 of Deschooling Society.

On conceptualising learning in new contexts
I proposed a reading group John Seely Brown on new learning contexts - perhaps this could be subsumed here? It should at least inform this group... Cormaggio talk 17:04, 8 February 2008 (UTC)

On learning models used in wikis

 * Eric Von Hippel:Democratizing Innovation (Reading group) - Wikis, especially the large scale collaborative wikis of the MediaWiki foundation, are prime examples of "innovation communities" at work. Chapter 7 "Innovation Communities" could be of interest in exploring how innovations (technical, ontological, governance) in this environment have facilitated the development and uptake of these wikis and in particular how innovative approaches to teaching & learning might develop in Wikiversity and related environments.

On "learning by doing"

 * John Dewey - Experience and education - a fantastic, and very concise book from Dewey about his reflections on "progressive" and "traditional" schools (though sadly still in copyright)

On teacher development

 * John Elliott on "Research-based teaching" - describes the work of Lawrence Stenhouse and himself on the process of helping teachers understand their work through becoming 'teacher-researchers'.

Organising
I proposed on Developing Wikiversity through action research/Agenda that we might choose two readings per month - and that these don't have to be books/chapters, but could also be passages from longer texts. Is that realistic? When we have enough readings listed and being suggested, we can start a system of nominating whatever number of readings we decide to focus on in a particular month (or other timeframe). However, it would make sense to have this fairly flexible - we could have four related 'passage' readings in a month, or take a month or two over Dewey's Democracy and Education.

Current readings
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Participants
You don't need to sign up to be a part of the group (or to read the readings of course!), but it would be good to know who's interested here, and in what area (so as to get more of a focus on what we could/should be reading)


 * Cormaggio - Currently doing a lot of reading on social theories of learning (communities of practice, activity theory), as well as action research (see eg Elliott in "teacher development" section above) - but I'm interested overall in how we are conceptualising learning and how this enables us to build learning communities in Wikiversity.