How the Nordic open online Academy (NooA) uses Moodle for Cooperative Freedom and Transparency in Online Education. A 45-minute presentation at the Online Educa in Berlin 03.12.14

1. How to practice good E-Tutoring
How the Nordic open online Academy (NooA) uses Moodle for
Cooperative Freedom and Transparency in Online Education
Morten Flate Paulsen
Professor of Online Education
www.slideshare.net/MortenFP
A 45-minute presentation at the Online Educa pre-conference:
DistancE-Learning in Europe: Exchange of Experience and Knowledge Sharing Berlin 03.12.14
www.linkedin.com/in/mfpaulsen 1

2. Abstract
The Nordic open online Academy (NooA) was established as a private
online school and accredited by the Norwegian Ministry of Education
and Research in 2012.
NooA’s aim is to become an international centre for online courses and
programs. So far, NooA offers 60 online courses in Norwegian, English,
Swedish and Danish. The courses are offered through the multilingual,
open source, learning platform Moodle. All courses are completely
online and based on the Theory of Cooperative Freedom and
Transparency in Online Education.
The presentation focuses on how Campus NooA implements the
theory with regard to freedom in time, space, pace, medium, access,
content, transparency and cooperation in online education.
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3. Morten Flate Paulsen
• Established Campus NooA in 2012
• Professor II at Sør-Trøndelag University College
• Worked with online education at NKI Nettstudier 1986 – 2012
• President of EDEN European Distance and E-learning Network
(2010-2013)
• Doctor of Education from the Pennsylvania State University
• American Center for the Study of Distance Education (1990 -1992)
• Adjunct Professor Athabasca University (1999 - 2005)
• Professor associado Universidade Aberta, Portugal (2009-2010)
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4. 4
The most interesting pedagogical challenge in our
lifetime is to provide online education that combines
individual freedom with meaningful cooperation.
I have struggled with this challenge since I first
introduced my Theory of Cooperative Freedom in 1992.
www.ednews.org/articles/10626/1/An-Interview-with-Morten-Flate-Paulsen-
Focusing-on-His-Theory-of-Cooperative-Freedom-in-Online-Education/Page1.html

5. Cooperative online education
Independence with the help of others
Cooperative
learning
takes place in
networks
Flexible
individual learning
is controlled by
the student
Collaborative
learning
depends on
groups
Rigid
individual learning
is controlled by
the school
Individual flexibility
Affinity to learning community
NooA spesializes in
Cooperative learning

6. The Theory of
Cooperative Freedom
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later included freedom of transparency

7. Transparency
or
privacy?
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8. 8

9. Transparency improves quality
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…of system data, course content, course work etc….

10. Scandinavian Online Program in Multimedia Journalism
www.webjournalisten.com
Audio Journalism: Berghs School of Communication (Sweden)
Video Journalism: UPDATE – Danish School of Media and Journalism
Text Journalism: NKI Distance Education (Norway)

11. Transparency promotes cooperation
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Dalsgaard, C. and Paulsen, M.F. (2009) Transparency in
Cooperative Online Education. IRRODL, Vol 10, No 3.

12. 12
Online Education Barometers
should have individual readings
cooperative readings, aims,, warning levels
and transparent feedback loops
Ideal for Individual Start
and Progression
Transparent feedback to the right people
Barometer wishes:
• Response time
• Course satisfaction
• Course satisfaction
• Service satisfaction
• Completion rates

13. Resources on Cooperative Freedom
and Transparency in Online Education
• Video: Cooperative online education
• Video: Online education barometers
• Article in IRRODL: Transparency in Cooperative Online Education
• Blogpost: E-viva em Portugal
• Article in Seminar.net: Cooperative Online Education
• Powerpoint: Cooperative Freedom and Transparency in Online Education
• Powerpoint: Visualizing student profiles
• Cartoon: Transparency for Cooperation
• Compilation of resources made by students at Universidade Aberta
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14. Examples of Cooperative Freedom and
Transparency in NooA’s Online Education
How much freedom is possible in a standard LMS like Moodle?
• Time
• Space
• Pace
• Medium
• Access
• Content
• Transparency
• Cooperation
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15. Freedom of time
Collective start-up Individual start-up
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16. Freedom of Space
• Only online activities
• Teachers, course
designers and
students in a
number of countries
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17. Freedom of pace
Individual paceing
Collective
paceing
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Get extra time for a fee

18. Learning Management system
Freedom of medium
Responsive design: PC and mobile
http://campus.nooa.info 18

19. NooA - pass
48 hour
access
Author school Executive school Health school
Travel school Art school
Secondary school
Freedom
of Access

20. Freedom of Content
NooA is multilingual
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21. Freedom of Content -
Depends on Partners
E-train
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22. Freedom of Transparency
Open Badge Strategy
• The students choose if they want to show them
• Badges only for completed courses
• Common design
• Connected to http://backpack.openbadges.org

23. Freedom of Transparency
and Cooperation
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24. Cooperative Assignments
from the Author School
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Write a One-question-interview with the author of a book you find interesting and
share it in the Writer Lounge.

25. Freedom of Cooperation
The NooA-courses are organised in schools and commons
Schools Commons
Executive school Board Room
Travel school Base Camp
Author school Writer Lounge
Health School Health Club
Secondary School Privatisten
The Art School Art Lounge

26. Freedom to study alone or
cooperate with others in:
• The commons
• The Student Certificate
• The Alumni Club
• The Mall
• The NooA-pass
• Social media

27. Social media can be embedded in courses
to cooperate with people outside courses
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CampusNooa
Blogger: campusnooa.blogspot.no/
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/campus-nooa
Issuu: issuu.com/campusnooa
Slideshare: www.slideshare.net/CampusNooA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/campusnooa
Instagram: http://statigr.am/campusnooa
Twitter: twitter.com/CampusNooA
twitter.com/NooAsamfunnsfag
twitter.com/NooAmatematikk
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28. Thank you
I’m open for cooperation and
the presentation is available at
www.slideshare.net/MortenFP
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