Learning about the Reinventnet Lab

Topic outline

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   In The Reinvention Network Learning Laboratory, we have adapted a software tool (Moodle) to support action research and action learning programs, and to accelerate learning by high potential individuals. Moodle is an Open Source Course Management System (CMS), sometimes called a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Moodle is being used by educators around the world as a tool for creating online interactive web sites for their students. We are using it more like a sophisticated lab-book used in planning and reflecting on our research activities. The links below provide more information about Moodle and our approach to learning

  • News forum
  • About Moodle URL
  • Why we use Moodle Page
  • Accelerated Learning Laboratories File
  • Sustainability and the Learning Laboratory URL
  • Learning to use moodle: an e-book URL

    Comprehensive description of moodle concepts related to version 1.9

  • On-line Moodle Tutorials URL
  • Some action research references Folder

    Academic papers

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  Moodle as a knowledge capture tool.

  Topics for a course/project can be developed in an interactive way more along the lines of research topics. The list of topics can expand/change as the project evolves, and what is being learned can be summarised using moodle tools or attachments. Links to relevant websites and files can be inserted. seperate forums or chat spcaes can be provided for each topic. Two benefits have been observed in using this approach:

  • As new team members join, they can get up to speed quickly using the moodle 'course' as a learning aid
  • When the project is completed the moodle 'course' can be used as an education tool on its own or as a case/reference linked to other courses

  A conference paper discussing Moodle as a knowledge capture tool can be accessed from the link below.
  
  

  • Moodle as a knowledge capture tool File

  
  
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  Action Research and Action Learning.
  

  Rather than a researcher being a notionally independent observer, he/she is involved in stimulating action, reflecting on what emerges, and stimulating another cycle. A similar approach is adopted in hands-on action learning. The topic resource material (see following links) gives a process overview and further detail

  • An Action Research/Learning Process View File
  • An Academic perspective File
  • Action Research - Wikipedia URL
  • Action Learning - Wikipedia URL
  • Learning as change on various levels File
  • Action Research References Folder

    Academic papers

  
  
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  Learning Categories, Courses and Roles in Moodle: providing elements of structure.

  We have adapted ideas founded in traditional classroom teaching to a cooperative knowledge creation and knowledge diffusion environment. The links below support a broader discussion

  • Reinvent Lab use of categories, courses and roles Page

  
  
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  Re-interpreting the concept of "Students" and the management of learning as a journey of exploration.

  In the Reinvent Lab environment, there is a spirit of cooperative learning where the traditional teacher role is replaced by a facilitator/mentor role, and the traditional student is seen as a participatory learner. The links below provide more detailed discussion.

  • A journey of exploration Page
  • The concept of serendipity URL
  • Service learning for tertiary students URL
  • e-service learning File

  
  
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  Some matters of assessment.

  • Assessing action research and action learning outcomes Page

  
  
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  The use of case studies.

  One output from an action research project may be a case study to capture what is learned. Case studies are also used as a teaching tool, particularly in business schools. When people involved in framing or studying a case are not co-located, web based tools can help, but there are some issues to address. The resource links provide some background on the practicalities

  • Case study as a research methodology (wikipedia) URL
  • Case study in research File
  • Writing a case study URL
  • Case study as a learning mechanism (wikipedia) URL
  • IT mediated case learning File