Knowledge Forum
Encyclopedia
Knowledge Forum is an educational software designed to help and support knowledge building communities
. Previously, the product was called Computer Supported Intentional Learning Environments (CSILE). It was designed for a short period of time by York University
and continued at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
, University of Toronto
, to support knowledge building pedagogies, practices and research designated in this area. In 1983, CSILE was prototyped in a university course and in 1986 it was used for the first time in an elementary school, as a full version. CSILE was considered the first networked system designed for collaborative learning (Carl Bereiter webpage). The main contributors were Marlene Scardamalia
and Carl Bereiter
.
In 1995, the software was redesigned in accordance to World Wide Web philosophy by OISE in cooperation with Learning in Motion. The new generation was called Knowledge Forum (KF). Knowledge Forum is an asynchronous Computer mediated communication
(CMC) technology that provides a shared discourse environment. It facilitates collaborative knowledge-building strategies, textual and graphical representation of ideas, and reorganization of knowledge artifacts.
The product is now used in a large variety of social contexts in 19 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Institute for Knowledge Innovation and Technology (IKIT) from OISE is the research group that takes charge of future developments of Knowledge Forum.
The main feature of the product is called note. With notes, users can do the followings:
The main technique that KF uses is called scaffolding (Scardamalia, 2004). Learners use a specific set of scaffolds that directs other toward cognitive operations that will help them to improve their understanding. The basic set of scaffolds is the following one:
Knowledge Forum is not committed to be a traditional LMS. According with its purposes, KF is grounded on knowledge building theory. The software helps students in their effort to acquire new meaning and nurture knowledge building communities
. In consequence, Knowledge Forum requires that learners and instructors take an approach in concordance with knowledge building theory.
Currently in version 4.6 in beta-testing the major version 5 is in progress.
According with Bereiter and Scardamalia (2003) "a comprehensive knowledge building environment would provide a means of
initiating students into a knowledge-creating culture—to make them feel a part of humankind’s long-term effort to understand their world and gain some control over their destiny" (p. 18).
Knowledge building communities
A Knowledge Building Community is a community in which the primary goal is knowledge creation rather than the construction of specific products or the completion of tasks. This notion is fundamental in Knowledge building theory. If knowledge is not realized for a community than we do not have...
. Previously, the product was called Computer Supported Intentional Learning Environments (CSILE). It was designed for a short period of time by York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
and continued at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto is a teachers' college in Toronto, Ontario.-History:OISE/UT traces its origins to the founding of the Provincial Normal School in 1847...
, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, to support knowledge building pedagogies, practices and research designated in this area. In 1983, CSILE was prototyped in a university course and in 1986 it was used for the first time in an elementary school, as a full version. CSILE was considered the first networked system designed for collaborative learning (Carl Bereiter webpage). The main contributors were Marlene Scardamalia
Marlene Scardamalia
Marlene Scardamalia is an education researcher, professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.-Contributions:She is considered one of the pioneers in Computer-supported collaborative learning...
and Carl Bereiter
Carl Bereiter
Carl Bereiter is an education researcher, professor emeritus at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto and co-director of the Education Commons at OISE/UofT, a division that integrates all information and technology services from this institute.His areas of research...
.
In 1995, the software was redesigned in accordance to World Wide Web philosophy by OISE in cooperation with Learning in Motion. The new generation was called Knowledge Forum (KF). Knowledge Forum is an asynchronous Computer mediated communication
Computer-mediated communication
Computer-mediated communication is defined as any communicative transaction that occurs through the use of two or more networked computers...
(CMC) technology that provides a shared discourse environment. It facilitates collaborative knowledge-building strategies, textual and graphical representation of ideas, and reorganization of knowledge artifacts.
The product is now used in a large variety of social contexts in 19 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Institute for Knowledge Innovation and Technology (IKIT) from OISE is the research group that takes charge of future developments of Knowledge Forum.
Specifications
Knowledge Forum (KF) Server is implemented for Windows, Mac and Linux platforms, while the latest version (KF 4.8) has a Client written in as a hybrid of Java applet and web pages. KF can be used as an e-learning system or as an in-class technology. For each class and course there is a database, individually assigned for each entity.The main feature of the product is called note. With notes, users can do the followings:
- Offer various options of finding for existing notes
- Write a new note
- Co-author, when more users share the authorship for the same note
- Reference and quote an existing note
- Annotate allows users to comment on an existing note without creating a new one.
- Reply (built-on) on a specific note.
- Rise-above notes which subsume sets of related notes.
The main technique that KF uses is called scaffolding (Scardamalia, 2004). Learners use a specific set of scaffolds that directs other toward cognitive operations that will help them to improve their understanding. The basic set of scaffolds is the following one:
- My theory
- I need to understand
- New information
- This theory cannot explain
- A better theory
- Putting our knowledge together
Software features
Knowledge Forum has some basic components that all Learning Management Systems have. It has facilities for posting messages, searching for notes, uploading documents, and online assignments. However, KF is not a typical LMS. Some features (such as grade book, live chat, student information, and the integration into a larger network of users) are not implemented.Knowledge Forum is not committed to be a traditional LMS. According with its purposes, KF is grounded on knowledge building theory. The software helps students in their effort to acquire new meaning and nurture knowledge building communities
Knowledge building communities
A Knowledge Building Community is a community in which the primary goal is knowledge creation rather than the construction of specific products or the completion of tasks. This notion is fundamental in Knowledge building theory. If knowledge is not realized for a community than we do not have...
. In consequence, Knowledge Forum requires that learners and instructors take an approach in concordance with knowledge building theory.
Currently in version 4.6 in beta-testing the major version 5 is in progress.
Pedagogical approaches
Knowledge Forum can be used in different areas such as:- Education, from grade 1 to graduate students
- Healthcare
- Business
According with Bereiter and Scardamalia (2003) "a comprehensive knowledge building environment would provide a means of
initiating students into a knowledge-creating culture—to make them feel a part of humankind’s long-term effort to understand their world and gain some control over their destiny" (p. 18).
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See also
- Knowledge buildingKnowledge buildingThe Knowledge Building theory was created and developed by Carl Bereiter and Marlene Scardamalia for describing what a community of learners needs to accomplish in order to create knowledge...
- OISEOiseOise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
- Marlene ScardamaliaMarlene ScardamaliaMarlene Scardamalia is an education researcher, professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.-Contributions:She is considered one of the pioneers in Computer-supported collaborative learning...
- Carl BereiterCarl BereiterCarl Bereiter is an education researcher, professor emeritus at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto and co-director of the Education Commons at OISE/UofT, a division that integrates all information and technology services from this institute.His areas of research...
- Computer-supported collaborative learningComputer-supported collaborative learningComputer-supported collaborative learning is a pedagogical approach wherein learning takes place via social interaction using a computer or through the Internet. This kind of learning is characterized by the sharing and construction of knowledge among participants using technology as their primary...
External links
- The Institute for Knowledge Innovation and Technology http://www.ikit.org
- Knowledge Forum http://www.knowledgeforum.com
- Learning in Motion http://www.learn.motion.com
- Carl Bereiter http://ikit.org/people/bereiter.html