CAISE Inquiry Group - Discussion 3 by marti

Canon SD800

On May 6-7, 2008 UPCLOSE ran a two-day CAISE Inquiry Group on the topic of how to conceptualize and evaluate successful professional online learning communities, especially those serving the multidisciplinary field of informal science education (ISE).

A second goal was to exercise the new NSF/ISE guidelines for "Evaluating Impacts of Informal Science Projects" www.informalscience.org/research/show/3643  by putting the Framework into practice with example research designs, instruments and metrics to assess the impact of recently funded professional online communities like InformalScience.org  and InSci.org  and ExhibitFiles.org 
This gigapan documents the discussion artifacts from BREAKOUT SESSION THREE which explored the the potential ares impact of online communities could at different units of analysis - the individual, the community and the field. Also discussed where possible metrics for what could be used to indicate change - be it professional development, social capital, innovation or collective efficacy.

See snapshots for more details and our model of impact.

View a video clip of this report back session at www.viddler.com/explore/rinajacks/videos/26/?secreturl=96235773 
We are experimenting with sharing the breakout group discussion in this format. Please let us know your thoughts.