Online Learning - will it be effective for me?
 |
| OpenLearning.com |
What is OpenLearning?
OpenLearning is an social online learning platform that goes beyond content delivery to focus on community, connectedness, and student engagement.Here's a brief introduction video to OpenLearning.com by Adam Brimo, Chief Executive Officer of OpenLearning.com.
For more info, visit www.openlearning.com.
First learning activity: Watch a video on playing tennis and its' rules, pass the simple assessment of 80%. In record, we have "learned" playing tennis. But in knowing how to play and the rules, can we really play well? Can we then "teach" others how to play well?
ReplyDeleteWhat was my boring/frustrating learning experience? Give an example and why was it so.
ReplyDeleteNow describe a perfect learning experience. What would it look like? Feels like? What would you be doing?
Understand the students' perspective:
ReplyDeleteWhat motivates them to learn?
- learn things that relates to daily life, real world applications, learning become more memorable, interesting (not boring stuff) and that you will share the learning experience with others...
When does learning works for you?
- interactive, good learning, team collaboration, sharing learning with others, learning by experiment and experience it yourself
What excites you about learning?
- getting quick responses/feedback, learn with a group of people with same interest, get connected to each other, having fun while learning, active in learning, supports in available when needed, active engagement and involvement...
The theory of Constructivism:
ReplyDeleteConstructivism is basically a theory -- based on observation and scientific study -- about how people learn. It says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences.
It's very different from the traditional idea of teaching as a form of knowledge transmission - where the expert teacher transmits knowledge that the student passively receives, and attempts to recall later in tests and exams.
The tennis video and quiz experience you did earlier is an example of the knowledge transmission model. It seems ridiculous when we apply solely the knowledge transmission model to tennis (because of course you need to be actively doing to learn tennis!), but really, learning anything requires you to be active in the learning process.
Constructivist learning theory informs a number of teaching and instructional design practices, which we will explore in detail throughout this course. Constructivist teaching facilitates critical and higher order thinking, problem solving and creativity, and creates motivated and self-directed learners.
What does Constructivist teaching look like in the classroom?
Key characteristics include:
students are actively involved in their learning;
activities are contextual, engaging and student-centred;
the learning environment is democratic and not authoritarian;
the teacher acts as a facilitator of learning discovery and experience and a guide for student reflections.
Students are encouraged to work in groups, to ask questions and engage in inquiry, as well as express, create and share their learning in a variety of ways.
Constructivism as a Paradigm for Teaching and Learning
www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/