review #2

I like to stop every month and review, try to distil my thinking in the hope that, as the months go by, I’ll be able to focus more precisely on how to build a better learning environment.

A month ago, Review #1 made 4 key points:

1. Any learning environment needs to handle multiple literacies: text, image, video, sound and their various mixes.
2. We need to keep in mind Downes’ list of required characteristics: open, diverse, autonomous, connected.
3. We will talk a lot about the material of media – code, video, blogs, links – and the content of media – lesson plans, articles, video clips, podcasts – but the effect of the web will influence the success of any online learning environment. The effect is the social psychology created by millions of people using a medium. Unfortunately, we don’t know what the effect of the web is.
4. Learning English is critically important for a lot of people in the world.

The second month began with my first proposed plan. I based it in Facebook despite the fact that FB is not open. Why? The obvious reason is FB’s popularity and familiarity to millions of potential learners. The second reason is that I believe Facebook will have to open up – and there are signs of that happening already. In addition to opening up, one more thing has to happen if FB is to be the base: some kind of advertising revenue sharing system needs to be developed for applications inside Facebook. There are things happening in this area as well.

Ning’s decision to create a FB app is very promising because it helps to solve a bunch of technical and user-interface issues. In addition, we can expect Ning to keep on top of all future UI developments such as Adobe’s AIR, which I think will be necessary by the time an initial learning environment is delivered.

My summary of the system forecast goes like this:

1. Facebook/Ning looks good for now as a base. FB will open up and will figure out some ad revenue sharing system in the next year.
2. AIR will be integrated in the same time and allow better UI and database integration.
3. Basic system ready by end of 2008 - just add users and content.

Wikipedia was also studied because it is a valuable learning resource and it is an inspiration for open content system builders. Content, as design guru John Thackara has recently reminded us, is “something you do - not something you are given by a person in a black T-shirt.” Wiki shows how to open up the creation of content to users. Any learning environment must figure out how to do the same.

Iteration is the key: work in fast cycles that continuously improve based on user commentary. Not trivial, as the programmers like to say. Still, a learning environment can already be envisioned; I’ll use learning English because that is my area of interest. Here goes:

1. FB base, with Ning on top
2. Adobe Air for better UI
3. Service is free, ad-supported through a GoogleAd type system
4. English language content licensed from language providers; redesigned for web interactivity, with styles both trad and innovative
5. Interactive features include:
   

   • » Video chat & conferencing
   • » Blogs with inline tags
   • » Online whiteboards

6. Teachers available or not; if present, they function in ways determined by them and students, both traditional classroom style or other innovations
7. Assessment tools custom developed
8. Revenue sharing with teachers and community content developers

Similar content/ learning systems could and will be developed for any area of interest. Of course, it won’t happen quite like this but this is the second turn and there will several thousand more turns to follow.

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