As a learning and development (L&D) and HR professional, I have felt into the trap of looking for technological tools or apps to meet a specific need or to engage a group. I researched tool apps (i.e., Kahoot, Mentimeter, Powtoon) over the past couple of years, especially since the start of the pandemic, to engage my team virtually so we can feel connected. I tested these tools, however they failed to meet their needs to engage as a team and finding meanings in a virtual environment. When reading about Cottom’s (2019) sociology of edtech and the need to work together as a virtual community of practice (CoP), I recalled Goulet et al.’s (2003) perspective that each team member thought process is internal with external influences from their environment, referred as the “social mind” (p. 336). Team members can collaborate and exchange through stories, informal talks, actions, and reflections as the team evolves thus developing its social presence within a CoP. Learning technologies can enable CoP’s, but not create them.
In a previous course, Leading Change in Digital Learning, Insell’s (2022) project team introduced a digital backchannel toolkit for individuals in organizations to collaborate within a digital learning community. The backchannel included expectations of behaviours, social presence prompted by a facilitator, and collaboration goals. Their collaboration tool was “an opportunity to integrate new symbols, languages, and practices from the organization culture” (Insell, 2022, para. 10) into their own “sandbox environment” (Insell, 2022, para. 10) or digital sub-culture included in the backchannel. The toolkit could meet so many different objectives, but also create social and cultural opportunities in a CoP.
I agree with Cottom (2019) that learning technologies are not just tools and apps, but a set of practice to create meanings and fulfill purpose. We can find meaning through a team’s social presence and collaborative efforts and purpose in creating meanings.
References:
Cottom,T. (2019, August 16) Rethinking the Context of Edtec. Educause. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2019/8/rethinking-the-context-of-edtech
Goulet, L., Krentz, C., & Christiansen, H. (2003). Collaboration in education: The phenomenon and process of working together. Alberta journal of educational research, 49(4). https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v49i4.55027
Insell, P. (March 13, 2022). Implementing Digital Backchannels – A Toolkit. Paula’s Blog. From https://malat-webspace.royalroads.ca/rru0221/implementing-digital-backchannels-a-toolkit/