Learnr: web 2.0-driven learning

Abstract

Since blended learning has become increasingly popular, teachers as well as learners are supported by a number of electronic platforms: starting from the distribution of digital learning content, via automatically advised online exercises to final exams being carried out in a university's PC lab. However, the concept of intensive learning, for example immediately prior to an exam, is only supported to a minor degree, if at all; thus, a recapitulation of learning content often still takes place in a traditional way where digital content is printed on paper and then annotated with highlighters and post-its, for example. The Learnr Web platform under development at the University of Munster bridges this gap within the process of technology enhanced learning by adopting well-known learning paradigms to the digital world. Following a community-driven, Web 2.0-coined approach, on the one side structures representing the learners' language, collaboratively created summaries and file cards arise; at a social level bottom-up networking and learning communities are fostered through sharing of individually created material.