free, open, flexible: rethinking learning materials online
DESCRIPTION
Considered as a whole, learning materials such as textbooks and lecture notes constitute the “shoulders of giants” on which learners and teachers stand. In this session, academic publishers, instructors, librarians, and administrators are all invited to rethink learning materials through their own experiences with online technologies. A short, informal report on the principal presenter’s experience with podcasting and other online applications will be followed by a facilitated discussion. This session will pay special attention to issues of open access, academic freedom, and flexible strategies for learning and teaching. Together, session participants will construct a new understanding of the implications linking technological changes to the use of learning materials online.TRANSCRIPT
Free, Open, Flexible: Rethinking Learning Materials Online
Alexandre EnkerliDepartment of Sociology and
AnthropologyConcordia Universityhttp://enkerli.wordpress.com/
Whoami?
• Nobody• Live online• Blogger• Wannabe geek• Think out loud• Radical idea?
We live in fascinating times
• Did You Know/Shift Happens• Pay Attention• The Machine Is Us/Ing Us
Anthropological Perspective
• Non-deterministic• Exposure• Reuse• Rethink– Copyright, authorship, identity,
ethics, aesthetics, rhetorics, governance, privacy, commerce, love, family, ourselves.
Web 2.0 and Sixth Internet Cultures
• Participation• Participating in…?• Learning• Learning as creative process• Constructing knowledge• Creating “content”
Learning Material
• Everything used in learning– Gathered for learning– Created for learning– Created through learning
• Verbal emphasis
Types of material
• General
• Learner-created
• Teacher-generated
• Published
General
• Email messages• Forum posts• Blog entries• Comments
Learner-Created
• Course notes• Term papers• Presentations• Exam answers
Teacher-Generated
• Syllabi• Slides• Lesson plans• Exam questions• Lectures
Published
• Journal articles• Monographs• Textbooks• Reference
Personal Approach
• Simple
• Comfortable
• Adapted
• Workflow…
Steps
Outlines
• Organise thoughts• Slides during lecture• Shared as lesson plans• Use as study guides• Overview for exam preparation
Podcasting
• Repetition• Encourage engagement• Build upon• Archive
Put Online
• Free• Open• Flexible
Free
• Speech• Information• Beer
Open
• Accessible• Transparent• Boundless
Flexible
• Timely• Dynamic• Adaptive
“Check this out!”
• Sharing• Peer-teaching• Exposure• Increase awareness
Repurposing
• Adapt each semester• Grow understanding• Find new ways explain
Still Need Textbooks?
Problems with textbooks
• Keeping up with editions• Standardised• Static• Cost to students• Unnecessary material• Inconsistent expertise
Simple Idea
• Create material together
Online Learning Materials (Community Created)
• Constructing knowledge• Collaborative learning• Collaborative editing• Critical thinking• Diversity of voices
Issues
• Open Access• Academic freedom• Diverse learning and teaching styles• Attitudes toward technology• Authority
Free, Open, Flexible: Rethinking Learning Materials Online
Alexandre EnkerliDepartment of Sociology and
AnthropologyConcordia University
http://enkerli.wordpress.com/