Learning Design – bridging the gap
Martin Weller & James Dalziel
Why are we excited?
• Enthusiasm• Stickability• Ease of use• Communities that actually work
Web 2.0 characteristicsTechnologyUser generated contentInformal learning
DemocracyBottom-upSocially oriented
Web as platformHarness collective intelligencePerpetual beta
Higher education characteristics Controlled technology Us generated content Accredited learning
We know bestTop downIndividual achievement
Review before releaseFiltered intelligenceAim for perfection
Implications
• Technology – loosely coupled vs centralised VLE• User generated content – vs academic produced• Pedagogy – informal/community vs
structured/didactic• Content and resources – new metrics, 3rd party,
new formats vs lectures, articles• Philosophy
The granularity of learning
• We think the course is the granularity for learning, but that may be a result of the economics of HE – place, accreditation, teaching
• What if the natural granularity is much smaller – akin to a blog post or a twitter post?
• Or at least varies for user/topic/need
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The topography of formality
• At the moment one or two big peaks then flat plains• Perhaps flatter• Lots of informal learning through social networking, • Then come together for formal learning chunks• What we do as educators
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Threat to HE
• Content industries• i) Find ways of maintaining the
publisher model, by managing the rights and use of content through a combination of technological and legal controls.
• ii) Find new business models that give away content but build and sell services around it.
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plus …
• Social• Convenience• Guidance• Accreditation
What’s LD got to do with it?
• Meno’s paradox – still offers structure and guidance• Granularity of learning – range of user generated
sequences, e.g. blogs• Topography of formality – long tail• Cultural clash – allows both guidance and user input• Web 2.0 quality – focus is on quality of learning
experience, but different metrics will be required• Personalisation - not only the subject you want but the
way of learning it.
We need..
• Tools to generate and share LDs• Motivation to share• Alternative accreditation methods• Critical mass• A flickr for learning design
Or..
• Is education/learning intrinsically different?
• Should it hold out against 2.0/user generated content
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