Building Online Learning Communities

PIE is an attempt to foster exchanges of ideas and experience between cities in various parts of the world using the online environment provided by the PASCAL web site. As such, it is frankly experimental with learning as we go, and will fundamentally depend on your ideas and experience.

Nevertheless, experience exists in a number of cities in building online systems to encourage and support learning throughout life. In some cases, these have been developed as extensions of library systems while in other cases they have been developed as ambitious city wide information and learning systems. It will be useful to exchange information on the state of development in your city, and to generate some ideas on how to build online learning communities in our cities to support learning throughout life, and building the kinds of communities we aspire to.

I will give two examples of these developments : the Ballarat Learning Exchange and the Birmingham Grid for Learning.

The Ballarat Learning Exchange was developed in regional Victoria from a proposal for a VET Skills Centre. Funding was provided by the Victorian Government through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. While BLX retains its VET skills role, it has broadened its role to include contributing to developing a culture of lifelong learning within the community, as well as retaining objectives such as facilitating access to vocational training opportunities for people at risk, especially youth. Facilities at BLX include a Skills Warehouse, multimedia room, a studio, and skills classroom.

The Birmingham Grid for Learning was an initiative of Birmingham City Council which provides a range of resources for learning throughout life. These include resources for schools as well as various post-school resources to encourage learning throughout life. This website encourages a lively approach to learning with items such as: Latest Quiz and Brain POP UK, as well as information through eBriefing Updates (e.g. Unemployment Briefing, Birmingham's Well Being Rating. Interactive resources include, for example, an interactive map of France.

A distinctive feature of the web site is the BGFL Multiple Intelligences web site which enables participants to take a Multiple Intelligences Test. This test is supported by information by information on Multiple Intelligence Theories and material such as Knowing Your Personality and a Free Myers Briggs Report. This is tempered by fun items (Xombies) such as a Horror Channel. The Council website provides access to a range of heritage resources.

What is happening in PIE Cities?

These examples point to the enormous potential of online learning in supporting learning throughout life and contributing to building a learning culture. It will be valuable to know what the current situation is in PIE cities, and what you would like to see happen. Responses to any of these questions will be useful.

Examples exist in places like Bad Tolz in Germany where online materials for learning are available to support the impact of a learning festival and to provide follow up on festival themes.

1. What is the current situation in harnessing the internet to support learning throughout life in your city? What has been achieved?
2. What would you like to see happen in your city to harness the potential of the internet to encourage and support learning throughout life.
3. Do examples exist of the internet being used to follow up on themes built into learning festivals in cities like Cork and Hume?