Workshop

Agenda:

 * Introduction:**
 * Ask what people are looking for in this workshop, record on whiteboard.
 * Set the Scene: View YouTube video Stand by Me: Playing for Change.
 * Initiated discussion about those things that move us, bring us together for common reasons, common cause.
 * Clarify what PLCs are and what they mean in an educational setting. See Etienne Wenger
 * What do these mean online?
 * Stickies activity: Brainstorm key words for online learning communities and post to whiteboard.
 * Discuss implications for our own learning communities

** Group activity 1: ** PURPOSE On stickies answer the following and arrange on A3 paper.

 * 1) Decide why you want an online learning community - purpose?
 * 2) Who would be involved, why? How many?
 * 3) What are your participant's common needs? What benefits/ motivation is there for participants?
 * Whole group discussion on purpose, considerations from Stephen Downes

** Group activity 2: ** LOOK/FEEL On stickies answer the following and arrange on A3 paper.

 * 1) What online communities do you belong to already?
 * 2) What might an online community look like? (Ning, Twitter, Facebook, ICT PD Online) What components/elements would it need?
 * 3) What content, resources, ideas will be accessible?
 * 4) Focus? Common goals for common needs?
 * 5) What tools are available to create your online community?
 * Show/tell/share examples of learning management systems, wikis, netvibes. See Michael Wesch
 * Participants have play with examples and rate appropriateness with rubric template.

** Group activity 3: ** Collaboration In your head, consider:

 * 1) Do you want interactivity, connectivity, input, collaboration?
 * 2) Is the culture of the group such that collaboration is valued?
 * 3) What is valued and valuable to share?

** Group activity 4: ** DEVELOPING A SUPPORT NETWORK

 * 1) Nina Simon says, rather than everybody, saying, here's is a digital space that we are all going to care about, you really need an entry point to a connection to an individual who is going to help you with what you need."
 * 2) **Activity:** You need to find a friend, so take a pen and two stickies. On one stickie, write down a need, what you might need to start a project, a need that may have arisen so far on this conference, something you could really use in your own professional life in the next month or two. EG you may need help with learning how to use wikis, netvibes, may need help with content management, copyright issues. something really specific where you will help within the next couple of months. I want/need...
 * 3) On the second stickie, write something you can offer, EG how to create wikis, sharing a project you have already developed. I can offer...
 * 4) Now go find someone to give a card to. Move around the room. Once you find a match with someone, talk through what can be exchanged, including email addresses, write your names on both pieces of paper and come up the front and post on the whiteboard. Start sharing.

** Group activity 5: ** CONVERSATION In [|Wallwisher] add stickies to answer the following.

 * 1) How do you promote/encourage collaboration online? Whole group discussion. See Nina Simon
 * 2) Is it task oriented? Important? Current? Contentious?
 * 3) What are the roles and protocols for all members? Who leads/participates in this environment?
 * 4) Is the facilitator someone who knows the content, is comfy with technology and has the ability to draw and inspire participants?
 * 5) What tools will enable this to happen?

** Group activity 6: ** CHALLENGES Group discussion

 * 1) What are the possible issues?
 * 2) What are the challenges and how can they be addressed?

When you leave this workshop ask yourself...

 * 1) Have members had previous experienced working collaboratively as a group? Do they already meet face-to-face and will this continue?
 * 2) How will trust be nurtured in an environment? How is risk-taking / the sharing of half-baked ideas encouraged?
 * 3) How will the facilitator value and elicit input from others?
 * 4) How technically savvy is the group? How can they be supported?

** Group activity 7: ** PLANNING Map on paper the content, look, feel, tools needed.

 * Conclusion:** View YouTube video One Love:Playing for change

//Excerpts include material from RJensen [|Online Professional Learning Communities presentation]//