Ever wondered what collaborative learning is? I’ve always had a few thoughts on what it could be and maybe took a logical guess or two but never quite understood why its so important to learning organizations and how they can be effective for learners. So I took it upon myself to ask the expert herself, Miss Hadley Beeman (@hadleybeeman on twitter) . Listen to audio for the exclusive interview!
Hadley focuses on collaborative technologies, helping people to work together when they are not in the same place. She has worked in many parts of the public sector, most recently in the NHS designing and launching http://www.synapse.nhs.uk for doctors in training. Her local government career has included managing the team behind the development of the IDeA’s communities of practice platform (http://communities.idea.gov.uk).
You can also find Hadley at http://hadleybeeman.net, which is coming soon!
My interview with Hadley on Collaborative Learning (30.08.09)
Audio interview: Liz interviews Hadley Beeman on Collaborative Learning
Here’s a breakdown/transcript of what I discuss with Hadley in this interview.
Hadley Beeman - Collaborative Learning Interview Transcript
Diving into the Learning Pool…
http://www.learningpool.com
So now that you know what collaborative learning is, after listening or reading my interview with Hadley, you might be interested to listen to my interviews with Learning Pool’s “Customer of the Year Award Winners in 2009″ to get a more practical and better understanding of the effects of collaborative learning from a community or users point of view. I worked with LP earlier this year and was thoroughly impressed with how highly LP’s customers spoke about LP. You can check out my earlier posts on Learning Pool below:
- Learning Pool at ScotWeb2 2009 on Collaborative Learning and Saving Money
- Public Sector Learning Conference – Fresh idea’s for tomorrow’s people
- Blend it!: LearningPool’s Public Sector Learning Conference Successful Blended Approach
- LearningPool Winners Videos at Public Sector Learning Conference 2009!
So I’ve asked Mary McKenna who is the MD of Learning Pool and see if there was any way I could help publicize their services to my readers. Kindly enough, LP has commissioned me to do this piece for them, which certainly helps me as a struggling student 
I do believe in what LP has to offer and hope that more people will be aware of the fantastic products and services that LP offer local authorities in terms of encouraging collaborative learning within and beyond their organizations. Click on the audios below to listen to these special feature interviews.
All interviews are slightly different from each other depending on each of their personal experiences but some of the basic questions asked are displayed below:
- How would you describe your experience using Learningpool as a whole?
- How would you describe LearningPool’s course design authoring tool?
- Do you have any specific example’s of cost or time savings when using LearningPool’s services?
- What are the major benefits, in your opinion, of using e-learning compared to class-based learning?
- What are your thoughts on LearningPool’s customer service and what is their usual turnaround?
- Would you say LearningPool has encourage collaborative learning in your council?
- What would you say are the best features of LearningPool in your experience?
Here are some special featured interview with the overall winner of Learning Pool’s Customer of the Year Award.
Christine Shakespeare - Basildon District Council
Ian Leggitt - Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
Simon Green - Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Jean Tracey - Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Let’s Party like there’s no tomorrow!
Also don’t forget to come and join Learning Pool’s Party this month. Here are the details. I’ll be there too, so don’t forget to say hello. I’ll be the one who looks like someone who’s never been on a boat party! LOL
Venue: HMS President, Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HJ
Tel: 0207 583 1918
Date: Wed 23 September, from 2pm till late (oh yes)
RSVP: book your places here
Hope this was useful!
Liz xxx
