In this article I propose that conversational thinking is an important skill to develop in online learners, to enable richer social learning experiences that move beyond contribution and consumption. Conversational thinking “Learning through discussion has value because it provides the motivation for each participant to articulate their concepts and ideas, defend them, reconsider them in … Continue reading Conversational thinking for online learning
Tag: learning design
MOOC design and retention impact factors
It is widely cited that MOOCs have poor retention rates, anywhere down to 5% of those who start the course may complete it to the end (Allione and Stein, 2016). On any other form of online or distance learning course, those figures would be a sign that the course was ineffective and not meeting the … Continue reading MOOC design and retention impact factors
Videos to support learning in MOOCs
In this article I consider why videos and other multimedia that enable narrative and storytelling are prevalent in the learning design of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). During the last #LTHEchat on hybrid learning spaces, there was a side-discussion on the significance of the internet and how it allows for new types of learning to occur within it … Continue reading Videos to support learning in MOOCs
A bad worker blames their tools – does the same apply to learning technology?
The old proverb ‘a bad workman blames his tools’ refers to an individual who, in doing something poorly, decides to blame the tool they have used rather than accept their own failings (OED definition). How many times have we (learning technologists) heard grumblings from colleagues and students (and indeed grumbled ourselves) at the inadequacies of … Continue reading A bad worker blames their tools – does the same apply to learning technology?
Digital capability in the curriculum: UCISA Spotlight on Digital Capabilities
I recently attended the UCISA Spotlight on Digital Capabilities conference, bringing together academic developers, learning technologists, IT trainers and information literacy specialists together to explore approaches to developing staff digital capabilities. In this post I look at the JISC Digital Capabilities framework and how it applies to learning and teaching. For a full summary of … Continue reading Digital capability in the curriculum: UCISA Spotlight on Digital Capabilities
November 2015 – Work review
This month it’s flipping classrooms with a webinar on flipped learning pedagogy. I promoted the use of in-class technology to capture handwritten learning materials and create video learning resources. I also wrote up my top tips for creating videos for the flipped classroom teaching model. Flipping webinars I delivered the first of a two-part webinar … Continue reading November 2015 – Work review
Reflections: The scientific approach to teaching, Eric Mazur (ALT-C 2012)
For fear of not being able to understand my scribbled, hand-written notes a few months down the line, I have decided to write up my ALT-C experience on the blog again. This is my ‘processing’ method… read on, it’ll all make sense. This post is a brief summary of just a handful of the key points expressed by Eric Mazur, Professor of Physics at Harvard University, for the opening keynote at ALT-C 2012 in Manchester.
The scientific approach to teaching: Research as a basis for course design
Eric Mazur
Keynote, ALT-C 2012, 11 September 2012, Manchester, UK.
Unravelling student expectations (ALT-C 2012 Conference Short Paper)
Unravelling student expectations: the use of early student data and module feedback to inform implementation (in the context of learning technologies). Short paper for the ALT-C Conference, Manchester, 11 September 2012. Matt Cornock (Social Policy and Social Work, University of York) Downloads Unravelling student expectations – Abstract [PDF] Unravelling student expectations – Slides with notes [PDF] Abstract Managing student expectations has become a … Continue reading Unravelling student expectations (ALT-C 2012 Conference Short Paper)