Learning Design – bridging the gap

Martin Weller & James Dalziel

Why are we excited?

• Enthusiasm• Stickability• Ease of use• Communities that actually work

Web 2.0 characteristicsTechnologyUser generated contentInformal learning

DemocracyBottom-upSocially oriented

Web as platformHarness collective intelligencePerpetual beta

Higher education characteristics Controlled technology Us generated content Accredited learning

We know bestTop downIndividual achievement

Review before releaseFiltered intelligenceAim for perfection

Implications

• Technology – loosely coupled vs centralised VLE• User generated content – vs academic produced• Pedagogy – informal/community vs

structured/didactic• Content and resources – new metrics, 3rd party,

new formats vs lectures, articles• Philosophy

The granularity of learning

• We think the course is the granularity for learning, but that may be a result of the economics of HE – place, accreditation, teaching

• What if the natural granularity is much smaller – akin to a blog post or a twitter post?

• Or at least varies for user/topic/need

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The topography of formality

• At the moment one or two big peaks then flat plains• Perhaps flatter• Lots of informal learning through social networking, • Then come together for formal learning chunks• What we do as educators

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Threat to HE

• Content industries• i) Find ways of maintaining the

publisher model, by managing the rights and use of content through a combination of technological and legal controls.

• ii) Find new business models that give away content but build and sell services around it.

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plus …

• Social• Convenience• Guidance• Accreditation

What’s LD got to do with it?

• Meno’s paradox – still offers structure and guidance• Granularity of learning – range of user generated

sequences, e.g. blogs• Topography of formality – long tail• Cultural clash – allows both guidance and user input• Web 2.0 quality – focus is on quality of learning

experience, but different metrics will be required• Personalisation - not only the subject you want but the

way of learning it.

We need..

• Tools to generate and share LDs• Motivation to share• Alternative accreditation methods• Critical mass• A flickr for learning design

Or..

• Is education/learning intrinsically different?

• Should it hold out against 2.0/user generated content

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