iCamp – The Educational Web for Higher Education

Abstract

iCamp is an EC-funded research project in the area of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) that aims to support collaboration and social networking across systems, countries and disciplines in higher education. The concept of an iCamp Space will build on existing interfaces and integrate shared community features. Interoperability amongst different open source learning systems and tools is the key to successful sustainability of iCamp. The content for this collaboration within social communities is provided via distributed networked repositories including, for example, content brokerage platforms, online libraries, and learning object databases. The innovative pedagogical model of iCamp is based on social constructivist learning theories. iCamp creates an environment for a new way of social networking in higher education that puts more emphasis on self-organised, self-directed learning, social networking and cross-cultural collaboration.