Blogging has become mainstream (even in HE), but building and sustaining dispersed cross-institutional learning networks is still difficult. Large and longitudinal validation trials are costly and resource intensive. A possible way out is introduced in this presentation: a simulation model of a Higher Education blogosphere. With this model I analyse the impact of a new educational intervention model and a new blog management component. The simulation predicts increased density and reciprocity.
Fostering Friendships - Enhancing Social Bonds in the Classroom
Simulating learning networks in a higher education blogosphere – at scale
1. Simulating learning networks in a higher education blogosphere – at scale Fridolin Wild 1) Steinn Sigurdarson 2) 1) KMi, The Open University 2) University of Iceland [email_address]
7. Educational intervention model Process view of iCamp approach (redrawn from Fiedler et al., 2009). (Nguyen-Ngoc & Law, 2009; Law & Nguyen-Ngoc, 2008; Fiedler et al., 2009)
9. Blog Network Example Resulting blog network as developed within the second iCamp trials : four universities were involved, bringing together 24 students and five facilitators (see Law & Nguyen-Ngoc, 2008). Within the three-month trial period, 68 offers were made, of which 49 were accepted . 94 requests for subscriptions had been made (see Law & Nguyen-Ngoc, 2008). The figure depicts the students and facilitators as the nodes. Offers, requests for subscriptions, each notification, and replies as directed links. Where two nodes are connected through multiple links, these are conflated and the link colour is darkened. The node size reflects the logarithmised calculated prestige score (Butts, 2009). R code is available from the first author.
18. 3 > Reciprocity-enabled + courses Reciprocity subscription and 1 week course injection every 12 weeks With 3 facilitators scaffolding 16 students each to subscribe to themselves and to mutually subscribe to each other in groups of 4 Additionally: 1 week of higher p_reciprocity of 0.3, then decreased p_reciprocity of 0.01