Experience Mining and Dialogues Workshop @ COINs2011

Last week, my students and I attended to the Third International Conference on Collaborative Innovation Networks (COINs2011) held in Basel, Switzerland.

We held a two-hour workshop entitled "Experience Mining and Dialogues with a Pattern Language for Creative Learning." In that workshop, participants talk about their experience of learning each other with using the Learning Patterns. The Learning Patterns is a pattern language for creative learning, namely the collection of practical knowledge of problem-finding and problem-solving in learning.

The goals of this workshop were as follows: first, understanding what a pattern language is like, especially the Learning Patterns, a pattern language for creative learning. Second, reflecting on, talking about, and (re-) designing your own learning. Third, becoming future facilitators of this type of workshop in their own community.

We had more than twenty participants from diverse fields and different countries. While it was our first time to hold a workshop in such an international setting, we enjoyed the facilitation thanks to the eager participants. Not only participants, but also the place of workshop was so nice, because the place of the workshop was the terrace of the Old University offering a wonderful view of the Rhine.

I'm really happy since participants said they enjoyed the workshop and it was eye-opening for them. Furthermore, we learned several hints from their feedback. I greatly appreciate their joining and I would like to thank my team members.

The Place of Workshop on the Rhine

Introduction Session

Demonstration of Dialogue

Dialogue Session

 Reflection Session

Workshop Organizing Team

The video of our presentation is available at the Livestream coninsconference page. Also, the following is the presentation slides posted into the SlideShare.

Experience Mining and Dialogues with a Pattern Language for Creative Learning  

Completed the Learning Patterns Card Game

We've just finished making a card game containing the contents of the Learning Patterns, a pattern language for creative learning.

While the Learning Pattern has been originally published in a form of booklet, we now propose a new way to organize and learn them; that is a form of collectable card game, which we name "Learning Patterns Card Game." Our aim of designing this card game is to help learners understand how to learn more enjoyably and also to make opportunities to talk it with others.

We'll present the card game at the upcoming conference, International Conference on Collaborative Innovation Networks (COINs2011) held in Basel, Switzerland, Sep. 8-10, 2011.

• Yuta Okazaki, Atsuhiro Takaoka, Yu Okabe, Mami Sakamoto, and Takashi Iba, "Learning Patterns Card Game," Artifacts, International Conference on Collaborative Innovation Networks 2011 (COINs2011).

Just completed the English edition of Learning Patterns

I have great news to share with you.

We've just finished to write the English edition of Learning Patterns! :)

The Learning Patterns is a pattern language for creative learning. Pattern language was originally proposed as a method for sharing knowledge of architectural design, and it applied and became famous in the field of software design. What we've written is an application of the method of pattern languages into a new field, learning design.

In our little book of the Learning Patterns, 40 patterns of practical knowledge for designing creative learning are introduced, focusing on problem finding and problem solving in various learning situations. This book is written and organized, intended to support learners in some ways. First, it helps learners to reflect on their ways of learning. Second, it provides opportunities for learners to know better ways they have not experienced. Third, it encourages learners to talk about their own ways of learning with their friends, colleagues, and mentors.

The Japanese edition of Learning Patterns were developed by the Learning Patterns Project consisting of undergraduate students and me, an associate professor of creative systems and methodology, at Keio University, Japan, in 2008. We have actually used the edition at our university, and more than 5,000 copies of this books have been handed out. Thus, learning patterns were originally developed in order to support learning of college students, however we believe that it can be applied to any learners living in various situations like business persons, engineers, scientists, artists, creators, and life-long learners. And now we are almost ready to show you the English edition of the Learning Patterns.

We'll hand out the book at the upcoming conference, International Conference on Collaborative Innovation Networks (COINs2011) held in Basel, Switzerland, Sep. 8-10, 2011. Then, after the conference, we'll upload the PDF online soon.

• Takashi Iba & Learning Patterns Project, "The Learning Patterns Book," Artifacts, International Conference on Collaborative Innovation Networks 2011 (COINs2011).