Topic 5
At the moment it is still early for me to say what parts of online networked learning I will include in my teaching. The course has been very intense, and right now all the impressions are quite blended in my mind.
At first, open learning sounded a bit suspicious to me. What is “open” here? Is it free for everyone to come and go, to take what they want and leave the rest? Is it that the end result is open and remains unknown to everyone?
Studying in a group made me think more about how to express what I’ve learned and how to share it with others. It also was a good reminder of how differently the topics are observed by people from different backgrounds and with different practices. As the other side of the coin, I could say the course has affected my own learning at least as much as my teaching, which is not bad in these times of lifelong learning.
Blended learning -at its best- offers the student different options in which to learn and complete assignments. Regardless of videos, learning groups and fancy interactive tools, so-called “traditional learning”, such as listening to lectures and writing essays should not be depreciated and forgotten. Since blended learning wants to take into account different preferences of students, also those students preferring to work by reading and writing individually should be considered.
In an ideal world, all the materials would be offered in all different formats possible-text, audio, video etc.- as well as all assignments could be completed in writing, orally, through video etc., according to preference. In the real world, though, limitations of time and resources unfortunately put some restrains on allowing for all possible formats.
Learning, whether it is called “online learning” or “problem-based learning” does not happen outside a person, not on the internet or in a network, but in the mind. Thereby it is an individual process. The emphasis is still on learning, not the epithets connected to it.
Using as many different online tools as possible does not make one an efficient online teacher. Registering to new applications, thinking out passwords and learning how to use the tool takes its time and when done on the run, it takes time and energy from learning the content. As mentioned earlier, learning still happens in a person’s head, not in a computer or a digital tool. When building a bookshelf, the emphasis is not on the hammer and the saw, but on the end product.
Overall, to apply blended learning will require some trial and error. It adds new ways to teaching and learning. The most important thing, learning and choices leading to it, are taken by the student.
