Transcript Slide 1

Communities of Inquiry and Other Web Based
Tools
© Fraser Health Authority, 2009
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1
Objectives
 Understand
the basic
components of a
Community of Inquiry
(COI)
 Become aware of web
based tools to create a
COI
 Learn how to create an
online COI
Outline
 Community
 Virtual
of Inquiry (COI) background
COI
 Design and Policy Considerations
 Virtual COI indicators
 Explore online tools to enable online COI
Communities of Inquiry
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FH Communities of Inquiry model is based on the work
of Etienne Wenger and colleagues in “Cultivating
Communities of Practice” (Wenger et al., 2002).
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“Communities of practice are groups of people who
share a concern or a passion for something they do and
learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.”
[Source: http://www.ewenger.com/theory/ Downloaded 5
November 2008].
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This definition is being applied to the concept of
Communities of Inquiry for FH.
A Strategic Purpose
 “Cultivating
COI in strategic areas is a
practical way to manage knowledge as an
asset,...” Wenger et al., 2006.
 COI are particularly beneficial to the
organization when the complexity of
knowledge requires greater specialization
and collaboration.
Basic Model of COI
A community of inquiry will have:
 A domain of knowledge
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A community
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Defines a set of evolving issues, i.e. research areas.
A well defined domain legitimizes the community by affirming its
purpose and value to members and other stakeholders.
Fosters interactions and relationships based on mutual respect
and trust.
Encourages a willingness to share ideas, ask difficult questions,
and listen carefully.
Requires regular interaction in order for the community to thrive.
A set of knowledge resources
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May be frameworks, ideas, tools, information, styles, language,
stories and documents that members share.
Characteristics
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May or may not include people that work together;
Voluntary membership;
Any size;
People meet on a collegial basis because they find value in the
interactions and in learning together;
May be homogenous or heterogeneous or may evolve into one or
the other;
No formal reporting structure to the organization, but may
influence development;
May be organized spontaneously or intentionally;
Information, insights and advice is shared in order to solve
problems;
Products, such as tools, standards, generic designs, documents
may or may not be developed;
May develop unique perspectives on their topics;
May develop a body of common knowledge, practices and
approaches;
Lifespan dependent on how long purpose and needs of members
are being met.
Design Principles for a
Community of Inquiry
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Design for evolution
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To meet needs of users as needs evolve.
Open a dialogue between inside and outside perspectives
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Inviting non-FH members to participate.
Invite different levels of participation
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Consider core, peripheral and outside members.
Develop both public and private relationships
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Web space, is designed to facilitate one to one linkages between
individuals and community.
Focus on value
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Follow up with members to determine the value/benefit they have
derived and how this may/has impacted their organization.
Combine familiarity and excitement
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Encourage members to participate in public events that may be of
interest to them- Showcase accomplishments
Crystallizing: Creating a
Community of Inquiry
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Key Domain Issue: Define the scope of the domain
so that it “elicits the heart-felt interests of members
and aligns with important issues for the
organization as a whole”.
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Key Community Issue: Recruit people who have
the capacity to network on a topic
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Purpose: Clarify primary intent and engage members.
Help them to imagine how increased networking and
knowledge sharing could be valuable.
Key Practice Issue: Identify common knowledge
needs.
Outcomes:
Tangible Value:
 An increase in employee job satisfaction and
therefore retention.
 A body of knowledge through the
accumulation of the experiences and tacit
knowledge of experts.
 The development of useful documentation,
tools and procedures.
 Develop ongoing practices that may meet the
organization’s long term strategy.
Outcomes:
Intangible Value:
 Build relationships among people.
 Increase a sense of belonging.
 Generate a spirit of inquiry.
 Infuse members with professional confidence
and identity.
 Personal satisfaction
• Having a network of colleagues who understand
each other’s perspectives.
• Belonging to an interesting group of people.
COI Organization
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
CoI
Team level
Practice level
CoI
COI Life Cycle
(Wenger et al., 2002)
COI Life Cycle Activities
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Inquire
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Design
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Bring COI to larger community
Grow
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Pilot test with stakeholders
Launch
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Define activities, technologies, processes, roles
Prototype
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Identify audience, purpose, goals, vision
Foster participation and contributions, form subgroups
Sustain
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Develop infrastructure, create new member roles
http://www.icohere.com/CoPDesignGuide.pdf
Virtual COI
 Network
of
individuals who
share an interest
 Online
communication
Virtual COI - Benefits
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Enhanced learning
environment
 Synergies created
 Capabilities extended to
higher level
 Knowledge sharing &
learning
 Gaining insights from
each other
 Deepening of knowledge,
innovation & expertise
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Cyclical, fluid knowledge
development
Feeling of connection
Ongoing interactions
Assimilation into
sociocultural practices
Neo-apprenticeship style
of learning
Identity development and
formation
Practice-based usage
eLearning Papers •
www.elearningpapers.eu • Nº 5 •
September 2007 • ISSN 1887-1542
Virtual COI – Barriers
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Perpetuation vs. change
and diversity
 Disciplinary differences
 Culture of independence
 Tacit knowledge
 Transactive knowledge
 Specialist language
 Collegiality, strong
physical community
 Shifting membership
 Creating and maintaining
information flow
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No F2F to break the ice
Read-only participants
(lurkers)
Hidden identities,
adopted personas
Lack of trust – personal
and institutional
Selectivity in information
communication
technology use
No body language,
misinterpretations
Task-based usage
eLearning Papers •
www.elearningpapers.eu • Nº 5 •
September 2007 • ISSN 1887-1542
Virtual COI – Success Factors
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Good use of internet standard
technologies
Technological provision
ICT skills
Institutional acceptance of
ICTs as communication media
Good communications
Trust
Common values
Shared understanding
Prior knowledge of
membership
Sense of belonging
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Cultural awareness
Sense of purpose
Sensitivity in monitoring,
regulating, facilitating
Netiquette
User-friendly language
Time to build up the COI
Regular interaction
Good coordination to achieve
regular but varied
communication
Resources to bolster and build
up the community
eLearning Papers •
www.elearningpapers.eu • Nº 5 •
September 2007 • ISSN 1887-1542
Online COI Design Considerations
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Private or open status
Membership – who to invite, who can join, how?
Open discussion forum – to share ideas publicly
Messaging – to share ideas privately
Blogs – to explore ideas
Opportunity for members to form sub-groups
Share documents
Support RSS feeds
Post pictures
Post documents
Post video
Links
Notification of updates
FH Guidelines for Participating in
On Line Communities and WebBased Networking
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Public displays of your professional identities should be aligned with
the code of ethics for your field of work
Patient photos must not be posted under any circumstances
No confidential information of any kind may be shared
Permission should be granted before posting photos of colleagues
Corporate photos, logos and marketing materials relating to Fraser
Health, acute sites and community facilities, and Foundations must not
be posted
Facebook groups, for example, about Fraser Health or a Fraser Health
facility such as a hospital (or similar groups on similar sites), should be
closed groups, whereby access to join must be granted by the group
administrator. Free public access to these groups should not be
available.
COI Indicators
Indicators Worksheet - Valuable for planning and evaluation of COI
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Membership
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Process/Activities
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Joint Enterprise
Diversity
Participatory Framework
Mutuality/Sense of Community
Sharing and Exchanging Knowledge
Reflection
Reproduction Cycle/Continuity
Outputs/Outcomes
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Action Orientation
Construction of New Knowledge
Dissemination of New Knowledge
http://community.fpg.unc.edu/teams/private/dec_cop_2008/DEC-CoP-Workshop-Worksheet-10-2008.doc/at_download/file
Conversations on the Social Web
Online Formats Amenable to COI:
A Guided Tour
 ListServ
/ Email distribution list
 Blog
 Wiki
 SharePoint
 Research
Networks
 Virtual Research Environments
ListServ / Email
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LISTSERV is the first electronic mailing list software
application.
 Prior to LISTSERV, email lists were managed manually.
 LISTSERV was freeware from 1986 through 1993 and is
now a commercial product
 A free version limited to 10 lists of up to 500 subscribers
each can be downloaded from the L-soft web site
http://www.lsoft.com/download/listservfree.asp
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CanMedLib http://lists.mun.ca/archives/canmedlib.html
Web Log
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A web log (blog) is a website
Maintained by an individual
Dated entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or
other material such as graphics, files, web links
Used to enhance the communication and culture within a
research community
Users may post comments
User network may be displayed
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http://fhaweb/Education+and+Research/Library/Whats+New/def
ault.htm
Finding medical blogs:
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http://www.medworm.com
Wiki
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A web page or collection of pages designed to enable
anyone to contribute or modify the content
 Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites.
 A wiki allows all users to edit any page or to create new
pages within the wiki Web site.
 Promotes meaningful topic associations between
different pages through links.
 Involves the visitor in an ongoing process of creation and
collaboration that constantly changes the Web site.
 http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/rtna/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Health
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http://pbwiki.com/
SharePoint
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A tool that enables FH teams to have places where information
sharing and collaboration across our organization can occur.
Create libraries for shared documents, department forms, and
templates
Manage shared lists for links, announcements, contacts, events,
tasks, issues.
Create custom lists to meet specific requirements.
Build web pages, e-mail alerts, and discussion boards for your
Team.
http://marpole/Programs+and+Services/Support+Services/Informatio
n+Management/Services/Service+Requests/Sharepoint+Team+Site
s/default.htm
Research Networks
 BC
Environmental and Occupational
Health Network
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http://www.bceohrn.ca/
 BC
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Network for Aging Research
http://www.aginghealthresearch.ca/
 Contact,
Help, Advice and Information
Networks (CHAIN)
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http://www.epoc.uottawa.ca/CHAINCanada/in
dex.htm
Virtual Research Environments
UPEI VRI http://vre.upei.ca/
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VREs are online
frameworks that
support research
initiatives and
COI.
VRE Article http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue44/fraser/
Build Your Own
Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/
Yahoo Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/
Demonstration of the M&M
Community of Inquiry
 http://groups.google.ca/group/communities
-of-inquiry-in-health-care
Activity
 Plan
and build your own Google Group
COI
 Consider the backgrounds of your partners
when designing the COI so that all
fields/areas of expertise are represented
 Use the COI indicators worksheet to plan
 Use the COI indicators worksheet to
identify desired components that are not
supported by Google Groups