By Stephen Downes
October 20, 2003
NAWeb 03
I am NAWeb 2003
in Fredericton, New Briunswick, and like last year I have
created a blog which is being added to by people here at
the conference. In addition to the papers described below,
I have summarized talks by Silicon Chalk's Murray Goldberg
and Princeton's Howard Strauss. By Various Authors, NAWeb,
October 20, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
The USA's Public Broadcasting Service -
Online Educational Resources
Web Tools
newsletter continues it's look on public education
broadcasting, this week with coverage of the United States
in general and PBS in particular. By Graeme Daniel and
Kevin Cox, Web Tools Newsletter, October 20, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
Developing Online From Simplicity toward
Complexity
The web is, as numerous commentators
have pointed out, non-linear in design. But most courses
are taught in a linear manner. This creates an incongruity,
but at the same time, suggests the non-linear design of
online courses. The theoretical basis behind this kind of
course design, argues the author, may be found in
complexity theory. "Curriculum, he (Iannone) states, should
be flexible, open, disruptive, uncertain and unpredictable
and should accept tension, anxiety and problem creating as
the norm." The second half of the paper described a course
designed according to this model. "Students thus had to be
more active in ‘picking and choosing’ their learning
approaches. They had more choice about what they learnt,
but more importantly, how they learnt it. Students would be
encouraged to jump from activities to facts or skills as
required. Students were encouraged to identify their own
goals; goals that were challenging for them personally."
Great stuff - and the non-linear PowerPoint presentation
used to present the talk at NAWeb was a refreshing change,
something I will adopt for future talks. By Renata Phelps,
NAWeb, October 20, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
Informal Learning: A Sound
Investment
In another useful article, Jay Cross
outlines the investment case for informal learning. He
writes, "Informal learning is effective because it is
personal. The individual calls the shots. The learner is
responsible. It’s real. How different from formal learning,
which is imposed by someone else. Workers are pulled to
informal learning; formal learning is pushed at them." By
Jay Cross, Chief Learning Officer, October, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
The Whole Equals Much More than The
Sum of Its Parts
Nice paper delivered today at
NAWeb describing the collaborative process involved in the
launch of the Alberta Teachers of Psychology (AToP) and
plans for the Great Canadian Psychology Web Site. Though it
comes out less in the paper than in the presentation, the
project has been successful in enlisting the support of
publishers to provide content. By Connie K. Varnhagen,
NAWeb, October 19, 2003
[Refer][Research][Reflect]
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