The iClass handbook, an insight into Self Regulated Personalised Learning model

‘The Future of Learning? Results from the iClass project', which was presented in the framework of the iClass Symposium organised in Brussels on 26-27 May 2008, informs policy makers, researchers and practitioners about the project’s results. Its aim is to invite readers to know more about personalisation of education and how self regulation can help motivate learners.

The booklet, produced and published by EUN, gives an insight into the pedagogical model forming the basis of the iClass project: Self Regulated Personalised Learning. Behind this term is what teachers have always been trying to achieve in schools: motivate the learners by empowering them, teaching them how to make meaningful choices and reflect on them.

The iClass system translates the ideas of the pedagogical model into an online platform which invites the learner to ‘plan, learn and reflect’. It is a prototype of what may well be common place in a few years’ time: a system which helps learners creates their own learning paths based on their preferences, mode of learning and character.

A new pedagogical system

At the heart of iClass lays the idea that the learner should be placed at the centre of the system, rather than having a clever algorithm making decisions for him/her and steering his/her choices. In iClass – as explained in the book – individual learners take charge of their learning, make choices on what to learn next and how, and reflect on choices made in a personal journal; a private space where they can see for themselves how they have reached a skill or completed a project.

How to render such a pedagogical concept using an online system? In the book each of the main concept in the iClass pedagogical model (choice, exploration, formal-informal, intrinsic motivation, knowledge space theory, metacognition, openness, reflection, self-profile) are described under two spotlights: theory (on the left-hand pages) and practice in the system (right-hand pages). This way the reader can see at a glance how a theoretical framework translates into concrete technical implementation.

Other sections of the book include the history of the project and opinions of teachers raised during the iClass validation framework. Furthermore, a special chapter mentions the partners involved and their role in the project, gathering as well the most relevant literature on the topic.

Validating experience once more

The last two validation workshops organised as part of the iClass project took place on 31 May 2008 in Budapest, Hungary and on 4 June 2008 in Toruń, Poland. About 40 teachers attended both events which aimed to validate how the learning platform, developed as part of the project, enhances Self Regulated Personalised Learning (SRPL).

The Budapest workshop: introducing iClass with care

The Hungarian workshop took place at the Eötvös Loránd University’s Centre for Multimedia and Educational Technology (MULTIPED). Activities were coordinated by the head of the centre, Andrea Kárpáti, UNESCO Chair for ICT in Education. It was attended by 18 teachers representing a mix of primary and secondary schools teachers and subject taught. Two trainers/validators participated in the workshop: Shiri Hagani from Ben Gurion University and Paul Gerhard from European Schoolnet (EUN), with support from Andrea Kárpáti.

Additionally, Petra Perényi welcomed the participants of the iClass workshop on behalf of the Educational Authority representing the Ministry of Education and Culture and explained programmes developed at the ministerial level to support the pedagogically useful integration of ICT in education.

The comments collected at the validation workshop highlighted the need to introduce the iClass system with great care in schools, as it may require a substantial institutional and pedagogical change. Teachers, as the participants explained, are still shy to open up learning paths and need to experiment with the degree of openness of their teaching styles.

The Toruń workshop: unveiling the changes iClass could bring in the future

In Poland, the workshop took place at the Pedagogical Library in Toruń and was attended by 18 teachers. It was the fifth such workshop organised by European Schoolnet. Maria Sliwinska of the International Centre for Information Management System and Services (ICIMSS) provided logistical as well as pedagogical support during the event.

Participants at the workshop included primary and secondary teachers from general education and vocational school. There was a representative of a teacher training institution as well as a teacher who has experience in writing school manuals. The workshop was also attended by a representative from the Ministry of Education, Janusz Krupa, who introduced the workshop and gave a brief overview of the policies to support ICT at school in Poland.

An interesting discussion unveiling what could be the future of learning with the introduction in schools of the iClass paradigm, arose among teachers. As they pointed out that the system did not seem adapted to the Polish system which is based on 45-minutes teaching units, the representative of ministry replied that iClass could precisely change this pattern and develop among teachers the sense of having a longer scope and see the ‘big picture’ of lesson planning.

Teachers who took part in the worshop in Budapest and Toruń were also given the handbook ‘The Future of Learning? Results from the iClass project', explaining the project results.
EUN was coordinator of the validation activities for the iClass project, additionally to the worshops in Poland and Hungary, other validation events took place in Austria, Lithuania and Spain. More than 80 teachers and 20 students participated.

Further information

- On iClass:
www.iclass.info
http://iclass.wikispaces.com

- On the booklet ‘The Future of Learning? Results from the iClass project':
http://insight.eun.org/ww/en/pub/insight/school_innovation/learnenv/iclass.htm
(book available at the bottom of the story in .pdf format)

For printed copies (available only in a limited number):
contact Paul Gerhard at paul.gerhard[at]eun.org