Linda CreanorGlasgow Caledonian UniversityUK

Steve WalkerSchool of Info. Management

Leeds Metropolitan UniversityUK

Some lessons from the Dialog On project

Dialog On• European Trade Union College

(ETUCO) – 2001-2004– Supported by the European

Commission– Develop trade union capacities to

work with the ‘tools of the information society’

AimsOnline learning:Online learning:

– To develop training materials and prepare tutors for computer-mediated distance learning (CMDL)

– To deliver 7 national & 7 transnational courses co-ordinated by 12 organisations

Networking:Networking:– To improve the capacity of union organisation– To develop materials & train network animateurs– To initiate 8 online communities of practice

Focus of Training

Technical training(First Class) Communicating Online Transnational communication Using internet resources Evaluating online interaction

Introduction to CMDL Developing & delivering courses Designing activities & materials

Introduction to Networking Animating networks

+ +

CORECORE

NetworksNetworks CMDLCMDL

blended tutor training course 2 face to face sessions 3 months of online activities preparation for transnational courses

Types of Training

Two face to face sessions Design of network discussion area Developing the ‘ground rules’ Online conference area for exchange of ideas

TutorsTutors

AnimateursAnimateurs

E-learning (CMDL)Confederations

– Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK

Organisational NetworkingEuropean Industry Feds

– EFBWW, EMCEF, ETF, ETUCE, UNI-Europa Graphical

A false

distinctio

n?

Technology

People Activities

‘What’s a network?

Virtual teams – small (restricted) groups, task-orientedVirtual communities – larger, more open membershipLearning networks - time-limited, specific learning objectives

European Works Council co-ordination networksEWC/company networksVirtual committees – extend over time, space, participation?NOT‘information exchange’

Some specific types of union networkSome specific types of union network

Some types of networkSome types of network

‘What’s in it for me & my

members?’Networks need to be meaningful to all (intended) participantsNetwork activities must (also) contribute to local union workNetworks best when based on concrete tasksNetworks need ‘animation’

Maintaining motivationMaintaining motivation

Recruitment – appropriate time, skills, experience & positionRetention – and replacement

AnimateursAnimateurs

‘A network takes a lot of work…

Ambassador: liaise with other union structuresArchivist: what’s worth keeping?Chair: keeps the work in networkHost: encourage supportive atmosphereLibrarian: identify & organise relevant informationSupport: resolve participants’ technical difficultiesWeaver: draw out key points from discussions

Pedagogue: design tasks to enable learning

Some animation and tutoring skillsSome animation and tutoring skills

Quoi?

Qué?

What?

…?

Often a ‘dimmer switch’ - not on/offWritten language skills different from spokenUse local language expertiseProfessional translation (where resources permit)English speakers don’t understand international EnglishTranslation machines don’t help much (yet?)

LanguageLanguage

For more information…• Dialog On Project web site: http://

www.etuc.org/ETUCO/en/projects/Dialog_on/default.cfm• Training materials:

http://www.etuc.org/ETUCO/en/projects/Dialog_on/material.cfm

• Dialog On Project Evaluation Report: http://www.imresearch.org/Staff/swalker/research/DoEvaluationReport.pdf