The advantage to the Professional Networked Learning Collaborative is the ability to leverage “Converged Networking”, the ability to carry data, voice, and video over a single network, which changes how, where, and with whom Professional Networked Learning Collaboratives can collaborate.
The convergence combined with broadband to school sites, district offices, and wireless devices will create an environment in which PNLCs communicate and collaborate regardless of geography.
Converged networking will allow Professional Networked Learning Collaborative to easily share data, communicate, and collaborate with people in different classrooms, at different schools, with experts at the district office, or with consultants from across the globe.
Location independent, or location non-dependent collaboration will not only be possible, but in many cases might allow PNLCs to have greater access to a wider range expertise more frequently. Imagine PNLCs meeting with teachers at other schools to share instructional strategies, or with district personnel to discuss data or potential Special Education issues, or even with consultants via various collaborative technology platforms.
PNLCs will be able to leverage talent, expertise, and knowledge independent of geographic restrictions.
The tools of the trade for the PNLC are many. Evan Rosen has complied an excellent list of tools complete with descriptions in his book The Culture of Collaboration.
Conferencing Tools
Application Sharing
Live, interactive use of software programs by two or more users on different PC’s. Users can work in programs together screen-to-screen. Web conferencing often includes this capability.
Audio Conferencing
An audio connection involving three or more people each using a PC, phone, speakerphone, or other device.
Document Conferencing
Live, interactive sharing of documents between two or more users. Users can edit and annotate documents simultaneously screen-to-screen. They can also engage in group writing. Web conferencing often includes this capability.
Group Videoconferencing
Live interactive audio and video connections between people at two or more sites using systems optimized for conference rooms.
Personal Videoconferencing
Live, interactive audio and video connection involving two or more people each using a PC, notebook, stand-alone videophone, or handheld device.
Virtual Hallway or Media Space
An always on video and audio link between two or more sites. A media space connects break rooms, hallways, lounges or other areas where people congregate. The idea is to encourage chance encounters and enhance idea generation.
Web Conferencing
Live, interactive audio plus application sharing and other features that may include document conferencing, shared digital whiteboard, shared web browsing, public and private text chat, and audience polling.
Web Presentation
Audio plus screen sharing in which the presenter shares his or her PC screen with one or more remote PC users. Only the presenter can edit or annotate material.
Whiteboarding
Live, interactive sharing of a digital whiteboard program between two or more users. Users can use digital writing and drawing tools together screen-to-screen. Web conferencing often includes this capability.
Messaging/Mail Tools
Email
Asynchronous exchange of text with possible file attachments delivered to in-boxes of oe or more recipients.
Instant Messaging
Exchange text that appears almost immediately on screens of users.
Text/Multimedia Messaging
Exchange of text, images and multimedia among mobile phones. Text messages can also be sent to email addresses and from the service provider’s web site to mobile phones. Typically, there is a character limit on text messages.
Video Instant Messaging (VIM)
Exchange of video and audio that appears almost immediately on screens of users.
Video Mail
Exchange of video and audio messages delivered either as email attachments of as links to server-based content.
Repository Tools
Digital Asset Management
Systems allowing archiving and search based retrieval of video, audio, images, text and other data.
Team Sites, Team Spaces
Intranet and Extranet-based work environments designed for groups of collaborators to exchange or post video, voice, images, documents, presentation, spreadsheet, and other materials.
Publishing/Distribution Tools
Blog
Short for weblog, a blog is a frequent, chronological publishing of stream-of-consciousness writing with links to related information.
Podcast
A method of distributing multimedia materials that allows users to subscribe to a feed of the new or updated content. Podcasts can be played on mobile devices and on PC’s. Podcast refers to the multimedia content as well as to the distribution method.
Vlog
A frequent, chronological publishing on the Web of videos featuring stream-of-consciousness talk.
Wiki
A server program allowing multiple users to develop the content of a Web site. Any user can change the contributions of others or add material including text, images, hyperlinks, graphics and tables.
Broadcasting/On-Demand Tools
Webcast/Streaming
Live audio and video delivered over IP networks that can be archived for later retrieval. Streaming is a more efficient approach to media delivery than simple download in that the compressed materials is sent in a continuous stream and is decompressed as the user receives it. Therefore the user can begin watching and listening to the clip before receiving all of it.
The widespread availability and acceptance of those tools Professional Learning Communities will move from “community” to “network.” Hence, the Professional Networked Learning Collaborative.
Recent Comments