IO2 report: setting up a transmedia educational resource

During the transnational meeting in Ostend in January 16-19th, the shaping of IO2 was discussed and  the participants were introduced to tools and techniques to drive a self-directed learning approach by the Informal Educator. 

Our informal educator introduced tools, techniques and approaches for a Self Directed Learning process and setting learning goals. 

After the introduction to a self-directed learning approach, the Library of Ostend, as a leader for IO2, focused on the construction of IO2, introducing a variety of web 2.0 platforms to build an informal learning network.

First we focused on some Web 2.0 technology tools. Jane Hart is the founder of the Centre for Learning & Performance technologies and focuses on helping organisations and learning professionals to modernise their approaches to workplace learning.

We introduced her transmedia model for top 100 tools for personal & professional learning. 

The partnership of I improve wants to provide for a multiplicity of internal communication channels between partners. The partners see the value in setting up informal communicative spaces and channels, for example closed Facebook groups, so staff of all the direct participants of the project can interact and develop their relationships. This idea of heightened connectivity between people using virtual platforms is the basis of IO2. 

IO2 is innovative in that it proposes a way to learn in an ongoing manner, using an informal educational approach to learning. This involves cultivating a situation in the daily working environment of the cultural organizations that contains elements from which staff can develop their transversal skills.

This project designs and disseminates an innovative method for addressing the needs of cultural organizations; an approach which fosters a culture of informal education and nurtures the competence of learning to learn. The development of a pedagogical approach for the cultural sector based on these principles means that how, when and why to evolve can be tailored to the individual and context. 

While the learning is subconscious – the knowledge is acquired in the aftermath of the process.

Through a workshop the participants are triggered to perform critical reflection on what occurred before.

Ostend introduced also the Professional Learning ecosystem: systems of people, content, technology, culture, and strategy, existing both within and outside of an organization, all of which have an impact on both the formal and informal learning that happen in that organization.

After the introduction of tools, technology and the workshop, partners had to find common ground  to shape IO2. All partners were asked to make a list: what tools do you use every day, week, month, year?

All partners made a video answering the following questions:

• What were the most important things you learned
• Describe interesting discoveries
• What can you do with what you know?
• What do you want to learn more about and why?
• What were the most powerful learning moments? 

All partners delivered videos to promote I improve and to share with the audience. 

After the TM in Ostend, Ostend took the lead to prepare IO2. They set up a Facebook-, Twitter-, and Instagram account, a YouTube channel and blog (WordPress). All partners have access to these social media tools. Slack was set up for internal use. Ostend together with Poland prepared a communication strategy. 

Transnational meeting in Vienna: IO2 Update 

During the Transnational meeting in Vienna, the Ostend partner gave an update for IO2. It is a complex journey with no strict roadmap. 

Ostend offered some baselines for IO2 sharing:

• What do I wish to learn? With whom? Which persons and organisations? 
• Start from your project
• What have I found elsewhere and can be relevant for our learning journey? 
• Look out for the potential of your network. 

The focus of IO2 is not only to share individual evolutions of one’s individual project, but sharing the learning process of I improve with other groups that could benefit from the outcomes of our learning project. 

During the TM in Vienna we tested the different social media platforms for ease of use: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. We did some exercise in uploading content. We set up a communication strategy to publish content on social media. All partners agreed to cover the social media in different weeks. 

Evaluation of IO2

After the first 6 weeks of adding and sharing content on the number of platforms we agreed upon, all partners answered some questions about their experiences and about their reflections in this aspect of the learning partnership. In the questionary we focused on three topics: content, practicality and impact on the organisation. 

Some findings:

• All partners preferred to use facebook as a communication channel to share their methodology, because it is the easiest accessible and has the biggest reach
• Most partners were able to reach out to other organisations with similar projects and were inspired by other partners within I improve and other organisations
• They have learned several insights from all partners. It’s always interesting to “follow” each partners developing process, both of the methodology as well as their learning processes. 
• They were also  inspired by the other partners within I improve to share articles useful for their project as an insight in the partner’s methodology and how to keep the attention of our audience. 
• They also discovered that an exchange of information with other organisations through social media is always rich in new inputs and reflections that can be shared and adopted. 
• after 6 weeks partners were able to reach out to a solid audience
• IO2  gave partners more insight into communication strategies and look for new channels. It made them thinking more in depth about documenting of what they are doing. 

After this evaluation:

We agreed that all partners should cover the social media channels alternating in a weekly rotation system until the end of the program. All partners are free to use the social media channels that they feel most comfortable with. 

There was a need for structured resources so that the information published in social media was less transitory. As soon as the website was updated, Ostend Library together with River//Cities created the educational platform with the three above mentioned boxes. After the development of the educational platform, all partners put in a lot of effort to publish on the educational platform, and use cross-overs and links with the social media channels.

The educational platform of the website is therefore developed as a transmedia resource.

All partners did not only put effort in documenting the evolution of their project. As personal reflection is really important in the program, we paid extra attention to this part. 

Our informal educator gave us input to reflect on our learning journey and to create content of personal reflection and individual writings.   

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