PLE Online Courses

Technology has brought changes to the way people learn and some “critical literacies” are becoming increasingly important. This course is about these critical literacies. Critical, as the course is not just about finding out how to use the latest technologies for learning, but to look critically at the Web and its underlying structures. Literacies, as it is more about capabilities to be developed than about the acquisition of a set of skills. It is all about learning what is needed to develop confidence and competence, and to feel capable of negotiating an ever changing information and media landscape.

The Critical Literacies course is also part of the National Research Council of Canada’s PLE research . The project will examine the learning that occurs as a result of interaction and participation in the distributed community. The goal of the research is to follow and document what communities of learners do when they are learning in a sizeable open online course.

The following information is intended to help you understand exactly what we are asking of you so that you can decide whether or not you want to participate in the research. Please read this information carefully and ask all the questions you might have before deciding whether or not to participate or not in the Critical Literacies course & research project. Your participation in the course and research project is entirely voluntary and you can opt out of the course and the research at any time.

Why are you being given this form?

Upon registering for the online Critical Literacies course, you are being asked to take part in a study designed to examine various aspects of learning in a network, based on the model of the personal learning environment, in which each learner aggregates and works with a unique set of resources, and interacts and participates in a distributed online community.

The information in this form is intended to help you understand exactly what we are asking of you so that you can decide whether or not you want to register for the course and participate in the research. Please read this consent form carefully and ask all the questions you might have before deciding whether or not to participate or not in this study. Please take whatever time you want before reaching a decision, and consult with others as you wish. Your participation in the course and related PLE study is entirely voluntary, and a decision not to participate will not in any way be used against you. You can opt out of the course and the research at any time.

Project team

Stephen Downes, Instructor and Principal Investigator

E-mail: Stephen.Downes@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Telephone: (506) 861-0955

Fax: (506) 851-3630

Frederika (Rita) Kop, Instructor

E-mail: Frederika.kop@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Telephone: (506) 861-0965

Why is the course being offered and the study being done?

The purpose of this course is two-fold. First, the design of the course is based on an understanding of the skills and capacities required to effectively learn using a PLE. Second, the offering of the course is intended to test whether learners can employ a PLE environment in order to develop those capacities.

What will you be asked to do?

The structure of the course is based on the pedagogical model employed in the Connectivism and Connective Knowledge course offered in 2008 and 2009. It is within such a model that a learner is expected to exercise the skills and capacities required to effectively learn using a PLE. The course will be held during a 6 week period, from May 31^th to July 11^th 2010.

Though there may be a central theme or structure offered by the instructors, there is no particular body of knowledge or information expected to be acquired by learners; rather, learning occurs as a result of interaction and participation in the distributed community, completion of authentic tasks within that environment, and the growth and development of the learner’s own capacities as a consequence. The course design, therefore, is that essentially of a community of learners who are learning to learn.

Researchers will study postings by course participants on the discussion forums offered through the course and any other course related postings that carry the “CritLit2010” course tag. Researchers will also conduct short interviews and focus groups with participants on a voluntary basis about their learning experience in the PLE. Course participants will be asked to fill out questionnaires on their perceptions of PLE functionality and learning experience, and will be asked to complete a course evaluation after a 6 week period (duration of the course).

By registering for the course, you have indicated that you will be willing to participate in the research as it contributes to the development of a Personal Learning Environment that will be used for the course next year.

Potential harms / inconveniences / benefits

There are no known harms associated with your participation in this research. If potential harms are discovered, you will be informed as soon as possible.

You will not benefit directly from your participation in this study.

Privacy and confidentiality

Any postings by course participants on the discussion forums offered through the course will be subject to study by the researchers.

Any postings by course participants on external discussion forums that carry the “CritLit2010” course tag will be subject to study by the researchers. Researchers will not be able to access any discussions that do not carry this tag.

If researchers identify links to other materials outside the course discussion forums that appear to be private (i.e., not marked by the “CritLit2010” course tag), the researchers will study the posted material only after checking with the course participant who posted the material that such use is authorized.

If you are not sure whether your content is being tracked for the study, please email the Principal Investigator at Stephen.Downes@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or the following member of the PLE research team Helene.Fournier@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

All data from the course will be coded and anonymized for analysis and reporting and all data stored in a locked office at IIT-NRC Moncton. All information gathered from you will be treated as confidential. Data will be retained for at most 2 years then all records will be destroyed.

All surveys are anonymous. The record kept of survey responses does not contain any identifying information about participants unless a specific question in the survey has asked for this. If you have responded to a survey that used an identifying token to allow you to access the survey, you can rest assured that the identifying token is not kept with your responses. It is managed in a separate database, and will only be updated to indicate that you have (or haven't) completed this survey. Your anonymity will be safeguarded at all times and your identity will not be made available to anyone. Unless required by law, no information that might directly or indirectly reveal your identity will be released or published without your specific consent to the disclosure. NRC’s Research Ethics Board will have access to the individual data, for monitoring purposes.

Compensation for injury, legal rights

By registering for the course and participating in the research you are not waiving your legal rights.

You have the right to change your mind

Your participation is entirely voluntary. You can to refuse to take part in the course or research project at this point or withdraw from it at any time during the study, without incurring any penalty.

New information during the study

Additional information about the course and related PLE research will be communicated on the course web site and advertized by means of various tools and resources available for the course (e.g., wiki, moodle discussion area, blogs, and newsletter).

Ethics review

Since the National Research Council of Canada is supporting this study, which has been reviewed and approved by an NRC Research Ethics Board, any questions or concerns about the ethics of this study may be directed to Lea Maloney, OREB-CERO@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, (613) 991-0398

Please remember

You have the right to opt out of the course and/or PLE research project at any time. We do encourage you to complete the EXIT survey before doing so.

Who to contact if you have any further concerns or questions?

Please contact the lead researcher, Hélène Fournier, if you have any questions or concerns about the research at Helene.Fournier@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, (506) 861-0957

Background survey: We would like to know more about your reasons for participating in the course and would like to ask you to fill out this background survey at http://survey.elg.ca/index.php?sid=45684&lang=en

If you are interested in the research and would like to be involved in interviews and other surveys, please email Helene.fournier@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Exit survey: We would like to know more about your reasons for dropping out of the course. Your feedback is important in helping us MAKE CHANGES that will IMPROVE the course! Please take a few minutes to leave your comments and/or suggestions at http://survey.elg.ca/index.php?sid=35171&lang=en

Thank you on behalf of the NRC PLE research team!