1. Redesigning Learning Spaces -
The purpose behind redesigning learning spaces is to help make learning more collaborative and interactive. A student-centered approach to education helps bring about non-traditional ideas. Ideas such as flipped classrooms, teleconferencing, bring your own device (BYOD) and informal presentations more closely mimic scenarios that learners would see in the real world and some of these ideas are best implemented with a redesigned learning space.
2. Increasing Use of Blended Learning Designs -
A blended learning environment is one that utilizes both in person and distance learning in the same course. Both traditional and non-traditional students can benefit from blended learning environments. The benefits of blended learning include accessibility, flexibility, integrated multimedia and a mix of independent and collaborative learning. Studies have shown that students who participate in blended learning environments perform better than those who participate in non-blended learning environments (NCBI 2015).
Significant Challenges
1. Blending Informal and Formal Learning -
Almost all students would be better off if they had previous informal training prior to enrolling in formal training. This would save the student time, frustration and money. One of the biggest setbacks to recognizing informal training in a formal environment is the lack of a way to assess learner ability quickly, inexpensively and reliably in most areas of education.
2. Personalizing Learning -
Personalized education means delivering the prescribed knowledge to a learner in the way that best suits the individual. This means taking into account previous knowledge and the user's learning style. Challenges to personalizing knowledge at the collegiate level include a large number of students in many class sections and limited time to get to know one's students in a meaningful enough way to adapt requisite learning for each individual.
The questions posed in the Industry Training article, The Business of Learning: Perspectives from Brain Science on page 11 (Pillay 2017) are great technological considerations when developing content. These questions are...
- Is the learning you are providing mobile friendly?
- Can the learning be enhanced in online community portals?
- Would gaming enhance the quality of learning?
- Can augmented or virtual reality enhance the content?
Citations
NCBI. 2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4386745/
Pillay. 2017. https://blackboard.utdl.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-6695687-dt-content-rid-56235443_1/courses/XLST.N5.201910/trainingindustry_tiq_20171112.pdf
Hi Jeremy! First off I want to say I love how you have your response so organized. It made it much easier to read. I definitely agree with students participating in presentation that will allow for them to have an experience that will be similar to when they are in the work force. I believe that is very important because we receive a lot of training inside the classroom, so receive some experience that will give the feeling of a real world atmosphere would be very beneficial. Courses that offer both in person and distance learning is very important as well. Depending on a person's schedule they could choose either or. It makes it hard on the student, whether traditional or non-traditional, to only have the choice of one.
ReplyDeleteJeremy, great post and I think you did a great job examining two different trends and challenges. I think your blog could be a little clearer if you would have mentioned if your responses were specifically tailored to K-12, higher education, or another demographic. I resonated with your first point "Redesigning Learning Spaces" as new approaches such as the flipped classroom have become widespread in different climates. However, I have not found the flipped classroom technique to be as useful. It seems like this approach is best for specific majors or classes where students are self-selected and have an expectation to do much of the work prior to class starting. I see some research has been completed regarding the effectiveness of the flipped classroom model and overall there isn't a definitive yes or no (Lundin, Resnfeldt, Hillman, Lantz-Andersson, & Peterson, 2018). I will say that the flipped classroom can be especially beneficial if a student is able to attempt to complete an assignment or project ahead of time and the instructor has acknowledged that failure is an okay option. In this sense, the student can do as best as they can with their own knowledge and use the in-class time to learn from mistakes and others. I know many of my students are also enjoying a more blended learning environment simply because the need to work and make money has outweighed the ability to simply take out loans and have all college expenses covered.
ReplyDeleteLundin, M., Rensfeldt, A. B., Hillman, T., Lantz-Andersson, A., & Peterson, L. (2018). Higher education dominance and siloed knowledge: a systematic review of flipped classroom research. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 15(1), 20.