Learning Object on Cooperative Freedom

Some years ago David Wiley defined a learning object as “any digital resource that can be reused to support learning”. In his work “Connecting learning objects to instructional design theory: A definition, a metaphor, and a taxonomy” he gives examples of small and large reusable digital resources and he explains his choice. The definition is focused on a homogeneous set of things: reusable digital resources and at the same time is still based on the original idea provided by the Learning Technology Standards Committee.

I chose Prezi for my attempt of a learning object because it was something I had never tried before and because I realized it really enabled reusability.

Check Wiley’s work here.

Cooperative Freedom on Prezi

Annotated bibliography - Cooperative Freedom

The purpose of this annotated bibliography on cooperative freedom is to gather information about this online educational theory, in an attempt to set up a definition and clarify its application to online education. This is a work in progress.

Paulsen, Morten. “Cooperative Freedom: An Online Education Theory.” Online Education and Learning Management Systems: NKI Forlaget, 2003. 39-50.

Annotation - In this article Professor Morten Paulsen presents his theory on cooperative freedom based on some existing theoretical perspectives and discusses how it applies to online education. He mentions the basic elements that define a distance education program and the implications of computer mediated communication (CMC) for distance education. The theory of cooperative freedom is defined as a theory of autonomy and independence which assumes that independently of motivational orientation, distance students need cooperation as well as individual freedom. This idea is represented as a hexagon and its facets are perceived as a continuum from individual freedom to dependence on others. Finally, the article discusses the difficult issue of combining individual flexibility and freedom with group collaboration and social unity within distance education.
Relevance - This article is the genesis of the theory of cooperative freedom as it is presented and explained by its creator – Professor Morten Paulsen.

Experiência Educativa no Second Life

Mais uma experiência em grupo no Second Life (SL) para assistir a uma palestra com a investigadora Sarah Robbins (evento que integra a Virtual Worlds Education Roundtables 2010).
O entusiasmo súbito de alguns iniciantes neste mundo virtual pode constranger almas mais calmas, cínicas (na acepção filosófica do termo) e desconfiadas. Às vezes, é mais sentido o deixarmo-nos conquistar por algo que vamos conhecendo. Temos mais tempo para pensar sobre o sentido e a validade do recurso. Num mundo acelerado como este das novidades da Web, temos a sensação que muitas acções são feitas sem pensar: como são novas, os colegas já fizeram e é preciso inscrever-se para aceder aqui ou acolá, lá vamos seguindo a onda ou o “buzz” ou o “twit”… Sabe melhor a descoberta, o reconhecimento de que há potencial pedagógico.
Se não fossem as amarras do dever do curso sugeria uma palestra sobre os fundamentos metafísicos do SL ou fazia a proposta de escrevermos um romance no género da escrita criativa passado numa ilha do SL.
Ainda bem que há outro mundo onde podemos estar numa bancada, de pé ou sentados, a ouvir uma oradora e, simultaneamente, no mundo real, estamos a prestar atenção ou estamos a fazer outra coisa…

As transcrições da Virtual Worlds Education Roundtables 2010 podem ser vistas aqui.