Eclectic Technology

More and more we hear discussions about digital learning. This post explores three concepts that may be new to you.

Heutagogy is the study of "self-determined" learning. If you think of an online instructor "as a coach, a mentor or a facilitator," as someone whom encourages the learner to be self-directed you have the concept of heutagogy. In our classroom this could take place if we provide our students an opportunity to work on a project where they will have the lead and we will work as a coach.

Peeragogy or paragogy allows learners to leverage "their own expertise." This allows students to work together in small groups and with older students (and adults) it "increases the potential for transfer of learning and as well as encourages sustained engagement among students."

Cybergogy is a new concept for me. The post describes it as "the awareness that face-to-face learning strategies may not apply to distance education and virtual media."

These three "gogies" of online learning may also apply in a classroom where there may be projects where students are engaged in self-directed learning.

The post also provides link to additional resources that look at these three "gogies."

The blended classroom is beginning to happen in many school districts. This infographic provides a great overview of blended learning. In addition to the section shown above, which looks at how teacher-led instruction connects to quality digital learning time to group work and projects (and the ongoing cycle) you will find sections on:

* Turning Computer Time into Quality Learning Time

* Empowering Teachers with Real-Time Student Performance Information

* Tying It All Together

Online learning happens in a variety of ways. This post looks at some of the critical features that must be included for an online or blended class to be successful.

Many schools are exploring online instruction as a component of education (including K-12). If you are interested in learning how one organization (edmentum) had the Marzano Research Laboratory review "the impact of strategies on student academic outcomes in an online learning environment." The report explores best practices in three areas:

* Marzano Dimension: Strategies Involving Routine Events - This area covers six best practices, including

  * Communicating course /assignment rules and procedures

  * Allowing students to keep track of their learning progress

* Marzano Dimension: Strategies Enacted on the Spot - This area also discusses six best practices, including:

  * Providing help to understand and practice new knowledge

  * Allowing students to ask questions during online course/assignment

* Marzano Dimension: Strategies Addressing Content - This area has only one practice: 

 * Adding external resources to assignments aligned to local objectives

There is a page devoted to each of the best practices. This information may not be new to you, but if teaching online is new to you there are great suggestions to help you design a course (or teach a course) that will lead to a more successful implementation. 

The link to this file is located at:  http://www.edmentum.com/sites/edmentum.com/files/resource/media/0317-01%20Marzano_eBook.pdf 

What are the ten blended learning design principles?
* Teacher at the Center

* Shared Vision and Strong Center

* Teacher Support

* Appropriate Technology to Match Learning Goals

* Ease of Use (Learner Experience)
* Rigorous and Engaging Curriculum

* Student Progress and Data-Processing

* Large and Deep Searchable Content Catalog

* Tools that Give Instant Access

* Open Online Platform That Does Not Limit

This infographic is geared to secondary education, but most of the principles listed above (and explained in more detail when you click through) also apply to schools whom would like to begin blended learning in the elementary school. The infographic also includes descriptions of a number of school districts that have implemented blended learning.

This post discusses how big data is impacting education. In the discussion on big data the following question is raised: "How can we make our students (especially those online students) more successful? (In other words, retention, retention, retention.)" As she learned more about big data she wondered what happened to the human side of the equation, "the caring."

Although this article looks at online learning the words of the Dalai Lama ring true for all of us as educators. Read through them and see what you think. All words used in the image above were said by the Dalai Lama. My thanks to her for putting together some of his words and bringing them to our attention.

Course design, whether online or in a classroom, requires good learning design and this post provides a great visualization of seven key principles. Along with the visual there is also a description for each of which have at least one link to additional information. If you planning a new course or revising one soon this graphic may assist you in the process.

This is the first of four infographics that will be published on personalized learning. The focus for this is providing a definition, providing examples of what it may look like in a classroom, and providing solutions and resources.

Many of us believe that personalized learning is new, but according to this post it has been around since the early 1990s. For more information click through to the post.

This is a great visual that looks at the myths and realities of online learning. The sections include:

* A brief description

* Three advantages of online learning

* Myths vs Reality (some of which are shown above)

* Drivers of Online Learning

* Policy

The infographic may be downloaded as a pdf file and you will find links to additional materials as well.

Online learning is becoming more popular and more schools are requiring students to take at least one course online before graduating. It is time that all of us to learn more about online learning and this infographic provides valuable information in a friendly format.

Are you looking for ways to learn online this year? Check out this post which provides 13 possibilities for you to explore. A few of them are:

* Get inspired by great speeches - listen to speeches from turning points in history, movies and more!

* Directory of open access journals - do you need to research a topic? Check out journals that provide free access.

* Publish your own graphic novel - Use Comic Master to write a graphic novel (or perhaps, have students in your class use it).

* Explore maps - new and old. With GPS we may neglect maps, yet maps are an amazing tool. Learn about geograpgy, culture, history and more as you explore old maps (and new) at a variety of websites. 

Nine additional links await you when you click through to this post!