Learnsourcing: Is it working or failing, and where to go from here?

Abstract

ABSTRACTOnline learning has taken great leaps forward with the emergence of Web 2.0 and has paved the path for learning technologies that can be conveniently accessed by users provided they are connected to the Internet. One of the most profitable learning techniques, “Learning from the crowd,” or augmenting “collective intelligence,” has attracted the attention of several learners who seek information in terms of knowledge access. This provides an admirable environment for learning with peers rather than learning alone. However, having access to these online learning technologies does not simply give the users the chance to optimize learning. In addition, researchers have expressed ethical concerns related to issues like accessibility, quality, authenticity, and reliability of content. Taking into consideration the pluses and minuses of “crowdsourced learning,” each of the panelists in this program will shed light on how to use the “wisdom of crowds” or “collective intelligence” to better articulate the process of learning in context of such ethical issues. Each of the panelists comes from a different field of expertise (Information Science, Library Science, e‐Learning, Learning Analytics, and Education). This diversity of experience will be reflected in the different perspectives presented in the area of crowdsourcing in education. The session will conclude with the panelists' presentation of significant comments that would emerge in the discussion.