Learning in the times of COVID-19

As we enter into another period of remote learning, we've had time to consider the impact of the Term 2 experience and have reached the end of another reporting period for students. This time students, teachers and families have a clearer idea of what's ahead of us.

During this time there is no shortage of professional discussions in which to be involved. They are worthwhile learning and exchanges of ideas. One such webinar I attended included a discussion of Cognitive Load Theory and Design Learning. It's time to look closely at students and their learning environment.

The conclusions of Psychologist, Andrew Fuller were particularly worthy of discussion. He suggested we need to listen to the students who are thriving and give them a voice. Why do many of them like the new arrangements of remote learning?  He suggested the processes we put in place in the coming months will stick.

Pathways to future learning he proposed (with caution) were:

1. Retention of some model of remote learning. Some learning will be asynchronous.

2. Increased brevity of instructional elements. The exploration of ideas is more important than the provider.

3. Platforms we’re using today will quickly become out dated.

4. Current university selection criteria will be reviewed. There will be higher levels of participation online.

5. Interdisciplinary learning – there will be more linkages between subjects.

6. Personalised learning will come into its own. Character strengths will be important. Here is a chance for teachers. Less mob think and tribalism.

7. We need to help people become design learners.

8. Importance of cultural competency. Ethics of common issues and focus on values.

The overall message that came from the webinar - When nothing is certain, everything is possible.

We need to work smarter on a new way of learning.

Rethinking Learning by Mitch Resnick

Mitch Resnick (MIT Media Labs) explains the relationship between technology in the classroom and learning most succinctly in Rethinking Learning in the Digital Age.  He explains why we must rethink our approach to education to fit with the new possibilities of the digital age because too often we're not taking advantage of the possibilities.

• We tend to use technology to deliver education to the learner which is not the most productive way of learning.
• Technology has potential if used as the material to create and build things in the world - learning as the active construction of new knowledge.  Building on the theories of Piaget.  
• Let learners explore new ideas themselves.
• Sophisticated mathematical and engineering ideas typically studied in graduate courses can now be brought down into secondary level through students using technology to build and simulate ideas.
• With technology you can build a quick prototype, try it out, see if it works.  
• There's a constant spiral between ideas in your head and being able to try them out.  Technology expands the range of things we can design and therefore expands what we can learn.
• The boundaries of where we can learn and with whom we learn are being broken down.  People with a variety of ages and abilities are learning with each other.  Peer-to-peer learning. 
• Changing classroom practice and teaching methods won't happen without effort.
• Schools put up lots of boundaries that inhibit the opportunities to learn - between disciplines, between age-groups, between inside and outside school.
• The child must be in control of the technology.  If the child is not in control, the learning is not being enhanced to the extent that it could be.

Rethinking education.

7 Survival Skills for students today

In September 2013 representatives of business, education and community organisations met to discuss issues relating to the future at the (co)lab summit in Atlanta, Georgia.  Videos of presentations Including one from Will Richardson, are available on the (co)lab summit Youtube channel.

Education leader, Tony Wagner, delivered this address Reinventing education for the 21st century where he outlines the 7 survival skills that matter most for students in the new economy in which we live. 

1. Critical thinking and problem solving (ability to ask the right questions)
2. Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
3. Agility and adaptability to cope with the pace of change
4. Initiative and entrepreneurship (ability to set one's own goals)
5. Effective oral and written communication
6. Ability to access and analyse information
7. Curiosity and imagination. 

Individual learners - The Future of Learning

This week, as the first week of the new school year in Australia, I've been introducing the Year 7 student intake to their learning space on the college network, activating their accounts and setting them off on their digital citizenship journey in this stage of their education.

The overwhelming impression one has after working on this routine but semi-complex task with 239 students over such a brief time frame, is the range of students in our classes.  Students who are relatively the same age, because that's how we manage schooling, but vary so broadly in abilities, interests and potential result on the NAPLAN testing they will undertake in the coming months.

Perhaps it was this week's experience that made me look closely at the following infographic published in OnCUE, the journal of CUE - Computer-Using Educators, that arrived in my mailbox yesterday. Titled A Glimpse into the Future of Learning, it provides a forecast into 'a diverse learning ecosystem in which learning adapts to each child instead of each child trying to adapt to school'. 

We have already commenced the journey. This infographic provides an overview that is worthy of a discussion with colleagues.

John Seely Brown - Global one room schoolhouse

John Seely Brown is a visionary who can lead us beyond the known to think deeply about new ideas and possibilities for learning.

This video is animated highlights from his keynote address at the 2012 Digital Media and Learning Conference at University of California recently.  JSB speaks of the value of creating context in addition to content, the value of blogging and of networks of learners in creating a place of safety and permission for learning.  He says 'If you don't feel comfortable tinkering, you are going to feel a great sense of anxiety'.

Spend 11 minutes to view this thought provoking presentation The Global one room schoolhouse