Social software for virtual mobility: an online community of practice-based learners

Keegan, H

Abstract

International internship programmes are now embedded into the mainstream delivery of the majority of HE institutions, offering learners the opportunity to link theory and practice while developing linguistic and intercultural competences. Virtual mobility is also being recognised as a viable and practical alternative to physical mobility, with educational cultures and behaviours being transformed as new technologies and tools allow learners to share knowledge and experiences across boundaries of time and space. This paper reports on the EU funded Socrates-Minerva ESMOS project, where group blogs are being used to nurture online communities of professional practice in clinical education. A key aspect of the project has been the paradigm shift from tutor-student dialogue to tripartite online communication between tutors and learners, with tutors facilitating peer-to-peer mentoring and support between students in the UK and those based overseas. This type of virtual mobility has enabled learners to gain an international perspective on the link between theory and practice during their clinical experiences while developing a culture of reflection, critical analysis and collaborative learning. The case study presented here demonstrates the benefits of blogging as a learner-centred support tool, connecting geographically dispersed peers in an online community of practice.

Citation

Keegan, H. (2007, June). Social software for virtual mobility: an online community of practice-based learners. Presented at EDEN 2007 New learning 2.0? Emerging digital territories. Developing continuities. New divides, Naples, Italy

• Presentation Conference Type: Other
• Conference Name: EDEN 2007 New learning 2.0? Emerging digital territories. Developing continuities. New divides
• Conference Location: Naples, Italy
• Start Date: Jun 13, 2007
• End Date: Jun 16, 2007
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2007
• Deposit Date: May 12, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: May 12, 2010
• Keywords: Community of Practice, Community of Inquiry, Social Software, Blogs, Blogging, Student, Mobility
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