Dynamic learning systems can be transformative in the learning environment when applied effectively. David Perkins in chapter seven of Making Learning Whole: How Seven Principles of Teaching Can Transform Education, discusses the impacts of putting learners in the driver's seat. This is a form of self-directed learning, and often this type of learning strategy has a strategy behind the intent. As an example, I am currently developing and designing a course I will be teaching for undergrads about leadership. This class will be entirely online, asynchronous. For the summative assessment in this course, my students will be submitting a leadership action plan. The assignment will be scaffolded with six parts, and a final seventh submission in the form of a wiki (website) presentation as their final deliverable.
This could all be done in Microsoft Word, so why a website (wiki)? There are multiple reasons, but it all comes down to my desire to facilitate flow in my students. And the parts that make up that whole are one: Autonomy. Two: Action and Expression (UDL). My students can make it their own, they can express how they please with a website. Three: reflective thinking. Utilizing web 2.0 tools and meeting students with “their technology,” (technology young adults use on a daily basis) can dramatically increase student engagement levels, allowing for the student to learn at their peak capability; aka “Flow Theory.”
Four: web 2.0 technology is something most people use today everywhere. Social media is a primary example. This technology is participatory in nature while also allowing for complete freedom of expression. A wiki (website) allows learners to organize thoughts on topics and draw connections to academic content throughout a learning experience. A wiki is a platform where continuous learning grows and evolves as a form of self-directed learning; the student can define and meet goals/milestones across the duration of this project, which enhances reflective thinking as the student’s thoughts and views change and evolve. There is also self-directed organization required of a wiki. The student defines everything and organizes everything however they want. This allows for students to take control of the experience, and present and organize material in a way that is intuitive to them, while also allowing for them to demonstrate comprehension in their own way.
Five: educational transfer. Building out this platform will help my students transfer their learning across multiple avenues of their lives. Leadership is applicable to all facets of life. Using web 2.0 technologies will also allow my students to improve their digital presentation skills, which can help them personally and professionally in many facets of their lives.
Tying it all together, I am not just trying to teach my students about leadership, I am trying to get them to discover within themselves what leadership means. And in addition to that, the strategy behind the strategy, or the "hidden game" as David Perkins describes it as, my "whole game" is that I want learners to develop metacognition skills, digital literacy skills, reflection skills, and logical organizational skills.
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References:
[Education Week]. (2017, April 19). What Is ‘Transfer of Learning’ and How Does It Help Students? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8QfkT8L9lo&feature=youtu.be
KILIÇ, E., & GÖKDAŞ, B. (2014, May 28). Learning through Blogging: Use of Blogs to Enhance the Perceived Learning of Pre-service ICT Teachers. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice. https://doi.org/10.12738/estp.2014.3.1987
Metacognition: The Skill That Promotes Advanced Learning. (2020, April 28). [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elZFL4FLVLE&feature=youtu.be
Nine Elements. (n.d.). Digital Citizenship. https://www.digitalcitizenship.net/nine-elements.html
Perkins, D. (2010, September 28). Making Learning Whole: How Seven Principles of Teaching Can Transform Education (1st ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Reflective Learning: Thinking About the Way You Learn. (n.d.). https://effectiviology.com/reflective-learning/
Schmidt, M., Tawfik, A. A., Jahnke, I., & Earnshaw, Y. (2020). Learner and User Experience Research: An Introduction for the Field of Learning Design & Technology. EdTech Books. https://edtechbooks.org/ux/flow_theory_and_lxd
Tech, C. (2022, August 17). Logical Reasoning: Become A Better Thinker [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcCPaSEICTY&feature=youtu.be
UDL: Action & Expression. (2018, January 12). https://udlguidelines.cast.org/action-expression
UDL: Optimize individual choice and autonomy. (2018, January 12). https://udlguidelines.cast.org/engagement/recruiting-interest/choice-autonomy
UDL: Self Regulation. (2018, January 16). https://udlguidelines.cast.org/engagement/self-regulation
Wikis in Education: How Wikis are Being Used in the Classroom. (2020, February 6). Educational Technology. https://educationaltechnology.net/wikis-in-education/
Tech, C. (2022, August 17). Logical Reasoning: Become A Better Thinker [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcCPaSEICTY&feature=youtu.be
UDL: Action & Expression. (2018, January 12). https://udlguidelines.cast.org/action-expression
UDL: Optimize individual choice and autonomy. (2018, January 12). https://udlguidelines.cast.org/engagement/recruiting-interest/choice-autonomy
UDL: Self Regulation. (2018, January 16). https://udlguidelines.cast.org/engagement/self-regulation
Wikis in Education: How Wikis are Being Used in the Classroom. (2020, February 6). Educational Technology. https://educationaltechnology.net/wikis-in-education/