Learning is in a constant state of innovation and renewal, some phases last longer than others. With the advent of mobile learning and the age of the internet in general, the way we process content and demonstrate our knowledge is changing at an even faster rate. In ten years time, I would not be surprised to see several more columns along the right side of the above continuum as new learning theories and educational technologies come to light.
In looking at where learning is going, it is important to understand where it has been. To take lessons from the past and apply this knowledge in moving forward. This is why I place my design thinking advice at neither extreme of the spectrum. By re-defining learning as a personal journey, I acknowledge that there needs to exist a cetain degree of foundational knowledge, and often times this knowledge is best imparted by an expert in the field, and consumed in a traditional sense by the learner. The instructor is also tasked with teaching the necessary synthesis skills, so that the learner can then embark on their personal journey of learning. and self discovery.
Hi Marshall,
Thanks for your post, I find the concept very interesting and absolutely agree with you that in ten years, we could definitely see different columns along the right side of the continuum. Do you think Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) will have a place in the current continuum and if yes, where would you place it?
Thanks again,
May
Hi May,
I have MOOCs on the far right of teh continuum, and I think they are well placed there, but educational change is as constant as any other kind of change. The true long term effectiveness of some of these new theories has yet to be long term “battle tested” so depending on how that does will determine whether the change pushes things further to the right and increasingly farther from traditional teaching, or if the new methods fail and we get a pendulum swinging back in a what’s old is new again sort of thing.