Educational theory has been marked by a steady progression of ideas: Instructionism posited knowledge could be transferred from outside a learner’s brain into it, and one stored there, it was available for use to solved problems and build new knowledge. Constructivism posited social interaction led learners to build new knowledge inside his or her brain. Read More
Month: April 2018
Towards a More Sophisticated Model of Learners
My recent reading has taken me into the social nature of learning and the role of culture in human learning. In many ways, what I read challenges the assumption that is deeply embedded in educational practice that knowledge is an individual phenomenon and that it is created with the brain of individual humans. Clearly, there Read More
Backwards Design
What are the fundamental “things” that teachers need to understand? This question has been interesting to me thorough my career, and the list that comprises my answer appears to have changed (at least if I am interpreting the notes I have kept and saved over my career accurately). One of my current answers is backwards Read More
5 R’s of OER
Open educational resources are materials designed (usually) by teachers to support teaching and learning. An book may be an OER, a test or worksheet, a presentation, video or simulation, image, sound or any other work. Most who are new to OER have little trouble understanding the educational resource part of OER. Teacher recognize them as Read More
Design Defined
This is a continuation of the theme contained in the posts: Training, Learning, and Design The Organization of Training, Learning, and Design “Design” is a word that is broadly applied in the vernacular. We can “design” many things, and the motivated among us will actually build whatever we design. In education, we use design to Read More
IT Goes Mainstream: The Most Influential Trend in Recent Generations?
69: IT Goes Mainstream: Generational Shift in Technology Use Digital technology dominates human communication in those areas where it is accessible… certainly in the West where smart phones and access to the cellular networks can be obtained for fees that can be managed on modest salaries, much of our economic, political, and cultural interaction is Read More
Basic Operations of Technology
I was amazed recently to hear teachers talking about “the need for good technology training” in their school. That is not the amazing part; what amazed me was when I asked, “what do you mean?” The response was, “you know using Google to find stuff for a good slide show.” The conversation made me think Read More