cloudworks jisc
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
+
An introduction to cloudworks: a social networking site for sharing & discussing learning and teaching
Gráinne Conole, Open University, UKJISC Eluminate session4th November 2009
http://cloudworks.ac.uk
+
Teachers/designers want examples, want to share/discuss!
Many repositories of good practice, but little impact
Blogging
Twitter Slideshare
Flckr
Youtube
Commenting
Live commentary
Tagging
RSS feeds
Embedding
Following
Harnessing web 2.0 practicesCan we change practices through use of web 2.0 ideas?
+Open design: Social and collective
+Key concepts
Clouds: core objects in cloudworks
Cloudscape: collections of clouds
Activity streams: dynamic filters of new activity
Follow & be followed: Personal activity stream and peer recognition
+Key concepts: Clouds
Clouds: IdeasDesign or case studiesTools or resourcesQuestions or problems
+Key concepts: Clouds
Clouds: IdeasDesign or case studiesTools or resourcesQuestions or problems
+Key concepts: Clouds
Clouds: IdeasDesign or case studiesTools or resourcesQuestions or problems
+Key concepts: Clouds
Clouds: IdeasDesign or case studiesTools or resourcesQuestions or problems
+Key concepts: Clouds
Clouds: IdeasDesign or case studiesTools or resourcesQuestions or problems
+Key concepts: Clouds
Clouds: IdeasDesign or case studiesTools or resourcesQuestions or problems
+
+Key concepts: CloudscapesCloudscapes:ConferencesWorkshopsCourse teamStudent cohortResearch themeProject
+Key concepts: CloudscapesCloudscapes:ConferencesWorkshopsCourse teamStudent cohortResearch themeProject
+Key concepts: CloudscapesCloudscapes:ConferencesWorkshopsCourse teamStudent cohortResearch themeProject
+
+Filtering and serendipity
Filtering – personalisation and tailoring RSS feeds for people and cloudscapes Different levels of email alert Activity streams
Public activity stream (all activities on the site), Cloudscape activity streams, User activity streams
Tabbed views – all, clouds, cloudscapes, comments links, references, extra content
Serendipity Active clouds on home page Featured cloudscapes on home page Browse clouds, cloudscape, tags, people Search for keywords
+Key concepts: Activity streams
Clouds
+Key concepts: Activity streams
Clouds Cloudscapes
+Key concepts: Activity streams
Clouds Cloudscapes Comments
+Key concepts: Activity streams
Clouds Cloudscapes Comments Links
+Key concepts: Activity streams
Clouds Cloudscapes Comments Links References
+Key concepts: Activity streams
Clouds Cloudscapes Comments Links References Extra content
+
+
+
+
+Follow & be followed Similar to following in twitter
Can follow cloudscapes & people
Indicates things & people you are interested
Anything you follow appears in your personal cloudstream
+Theoretical perspectives
“Social objects”Social networking makes little sense if we leave out the objects that mediate the ties between peopleEngeström
Design framework for socialityEnabling practiceMimicking realityBuilding identityActualising selfBouman et al.
+Approach
Agile development: initially build in Drupal, now Codeigniter
Series of phases: design decisions, development, evaluation
Empirical evidence Web stats including google analytics Interviews “Cloudfests” and focus groups Workshops and conferences Observation and reflective diaries Critical friends group and design summits
+Principles
Open, drawing on web 2.0 practices
Clouds as core objects – social, cummulative, intelligent
Intentionally both built around “communities”/’clusters of interest”
Cross-boundary, both filtering/personalisable and serendipitous
Dynamic and evolving through use alongside real events as well as virtual ones
Variety of types of activities and uses, but focus always on sharing, finding and discussing educational ideas and designs
+Design decisions: Phase 1
Based on cloud metaphor
Seeded the site
Limited social features
Tagging by pedagogy, tool, discipline
No private content
User profiles
Five cloud types
Data from: workshops, focus groups, surveys, “cloudfests”
Findings Privacy and provenance Sustainability Barriers to sharing Lack of spontaneous use
“What’s in it for me”? Needs to be: fun,
motivationing, useful
Phase 1 Evaluation
+Design decisions: Phase 2
Amalgamated cloud types
Increased social features
Fostered communities – cloudscapes
Added follow functionality
Set up “My cloudstream”
Data from range of source plus a usability report
Findings Growing interest and
activity Good around events,
but lack of enough spontaneous use
Navigation needed improvement
Phase 2 Evaluation
+Design decisions: Phase 3
Total redesign, look & feel
Added RSS feeds & email alerts
Embedded content possible
Merged tag categories
Added links & references
Activity streams available
Findings Significant increase in use
of the site as a result of new design and functionality
New patterns of behaviour
New niche, conduit between twitter, blogs and other sites
Divided views about the concept of “clouds”
Phase 3 Evaluation
+Some stats….Aspect Everyone Team Non-team
Cloudscapes 117 49 68
Clouds 1386 935 451
Comments 1882 613 1269
Links 1581 1165 416
1360 registered users
Added Sept.
+
+Emergent patterns of use
Events: conferences and workshops ALT-C conference, 8-11th September 2009 http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/1870
Discussions: Flash debates Is Twitter killing blogging? http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloud/view/2266
Eliciting expertise and open reviews Literature review of educational technologist http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/1872
Aggregating resources En Rumbo Spanish course http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloudscape/view/776
+Summary
Evidence of new practices occurring on the site
Genuine “buzz” about the site increasingly
Mix of web 2.0 functionality and nice alignment with existing web 2.0 tools
Supporting a range of learning and teaching activities, but remaining true to the core principles and vision
Cloudworks champions on the rise
Come and play in the clouds!!!
+
An introduction to cloudworks: a social networking site for sharing & discussing learning and teaching
Gráinne Conole, Open University, UKNovember 2009
http://cloudworks.ac.uk