Use of cloudworks in for blended learning

Rebecca Galley
3:12pm 27 May 2010

Yes, it has recently been used as part of the OU masters module - Technology-enhanced learning: practices and debates (H800). Grainne set up a Cloudquest activity to introduce the site that seemed to work well.

Gráinne Conole
3:41pm 27 May 2010

Yes it seemed to work really well - was a nice way for them to experience a web 2.0 site that has been designed to support and foster practitioner debate and scholarship. Some were freaked out to begin with but then started to see the value. Maybe if some of the H800 students are reading this they might comment!

Neil Stapleton
7:17am 28 May 2010

Thanks both, that's given me just the starting point I was looking for, I look forward to hearing some reflection from the students.  Will update as we progress.

Rebecca Galley
1:33pm 28 May 2010

Grainne makes an important observation about how some students can be quite disorientated by Cloudworks at first. Cloudworks is a big space but also some of the ideas, tools discussion can really challenge existing practices and philosophies - it can be like looking through a window at an entirely different world. I had this experience myself with the 'Should staff and students learning in second life have accurate human avatars?' debate. I found all the beliefs I hold/held about authenticity and identity completely blasted out of the water...in a good way... but very challenging.

Gráinne Conole
1:38pm 28 May 2010

yep challenging but ultimately worthwhile, we did also see with the H800 students that once they got used to the space many of them could really see the benefits. Will be interesting to see if they continue using it in their professional practice once the course has finsihed.

Khorshed Bhote
9:23pm 18 August 2010

As an H800 student, I was quite taken by Cloudworks.  Enjoyed the whole concept and still visit occasionally.  Hope to be more proactive once the ECA is done and dusted.

Hope to introduce my new trainee teachers to it in the upcoming academic year.

What I like about it is the ease of finding information and the variety, all just about teaching and learning rather than trawling through Google hits.  We used it for our flash debate and were disappointed that our peers were less than enthusiastic.  I don't think it was to do with Cloudworks itself, but this activity design (liked the cloudquest) and the overwhelming plethora of information that we have been subjected to on this course, it has been unrelenting!  How I sympathise with my own learners.

Julie Carle
5:35am 19 August 2010

As an H800 student I have valued the introduction to Cloudworks and encouragement to engage in debate. I use the network regularly as an authentic educational space to learn and share with others. Links to events are also very useful. I think the space is extremely important for educational students moving from study to practice. New topics and discussions are created regularly so there is usually interesting content to engage with. Personally I will continue with the network once my studies are complete.

Gráinne Conole
9:31am 19 August 2010

Khorshed and Julie

So glad you found cloudworks useful and will be great if you continue to use it!

Chris Kirkland
10:50pm 18 September 2010

As a new user I also find it difficult keeping a focus on particular areas. I have created some cloudscapes of my own that I hope will help here. The wide range of topics is useful and gives a different perspective and useful alternative to the specific subject based sites provided by subject specialists such as the excellent Institute of Physics.