OLDaily

Welcome to Online Learning Daily, your best source for news and commentary about learning technology, new media, and related topics.

6 trends to watch in K-12 schools in 2024 - Christensen Institute
Michael B. Horn, Christensen Institute, 2024/02/15

---

As always, then the Christensen Institute reports on "trends" it's describing what it thinks should happen phrased as descriptions or what will probably happen. So here's what the Institute is advocating for: more homeschooling, parents choosing alternative schooling, education savings accounts, school districts supporting customization, competency-based learning, and career and technical education (CTE) for all, instead of college. Most of these don't work for lower-income people at all, but that's OK, they're just be streamed into CTE. As a package, it essentially abandons the idea of public education. It would be a sad future if this were the case, an instance of an economy (and a democracy) in decline, with no real hope for the mass of people in society.

Web: [Direct Link] [This Post]

How Did Altruism Evolve?
Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 2024/02/15

---

In my work on ethics I talk about things like the moral sentiment. That is, I say that ethics is based on subjective feelings, not some sort of rational choice, much less following a set of rules or principles. But where would this sentiment come from? One suggestion is that it originates in evolution. This article interviews "Stephanie Preston about the evolutionary, neurological and behavioral basis of altruism." There are numerous cases of self-sacrificing behaviour in nature. And there's an argument that we've evolved a sense of species preservation, a feeling of care for offspring, or empathy for individuals in distress. None of this offers a justification for ethics - as David Hume says, 'ought does not follow from is'. But it offers an explanation for why we feel the way we do.

Web: [Direct Link] [This Post]

How I learn is(n’t) how you learn
Ylva Koch, Teaching Matters blog, 2024/02/15

---

We're told "Yval Koch talks about the moment she realised that her learning process didn't apply to all learners, which motivated her to reflect on how to create inclusive learning environments." Though I'm generally supportive of this belief, as I read it today my mind rehearsed the objections. First, because learning is a procress of creating connections between neurons, we actually do all learn in the same way. Second, it may be true that people state that they learn differently from others, but many people may learn in the wrong way. 'How I learn isn't how you learn' is one of those statements that can be true and false at the same time, wight and wrong at the same time.

Web: [Direct Link] [This Post]

I don't agree with Cognitive Load Theory (CLT). Here's Why (Updated with downloadable paper)file) — ICT & Computing in Education
Terry Freedman, ICT & Computing in Education, 2024/02/15

---

It's nice to see someone else questioning cognitive load theory (CLT). "CLT examines the complex relationship between our working and long term memory. It states that if we can't process information in our working memory, then it won't be transferred and stored in our long term memory. Then, we won't be able to remember it in the future." CLT is, in my view, based on a very naive understanding of cognition (hint: it's not transfer and storage of information). In this article Terry Freedman raises questions about CLT founder John Sweller's research methodology, raises some counterexamples, and criticizes the theory's vagueness.

Web: [Direct Link] [This Post]

2024 EDUCAUSE AI Landscape Study
EDUCAUSE, 2024/02/15

---

These are the results of a survey of 910 respondents to an EDUCAUSE email request, to the response leans toward management and technical staff at U.S. higher ed institutions. The results are not even slightly surprising. There's interest and enthusiasm, coupled with uncertainty and lack of knowledge, combine with fears that people (and especially students) will misuse it. There is (and this is my interpretation here) no real expectation that AI will change anything fundamental in how learning is designed and delivered.

Web: [Direct Link] [This Post]

The Psychology of Camera Confidence
Anne-Laure Le Cunff, Ness Labs, 2024/02/15

---

I have never lacked camera confidence. Being able to interact on camera is far easier than in person. Television, video recording, online - it makes no difference to me. I'm comfortable in front of the lens. So it's hard for me to imagine a fear of being on camera. But I understand that it's a real thing, so it seems relevant to pass along this article for both teachers and students who approach the idea of being recorded with trepidition.

Web: [Direct Link] [This Post]

We publish six to eight or so short posts every weekday linking to the best, most interesting and most important pieces of content in the field. Read more about what we cover. We also list papers and articles by Stephen Downes and his presentations from around the world.

There are many ways to read OLDaily; pick whatever works best for you:

• Read in your web browser on this web page, updated weekdays
• Receive a daily or weekly email newsletter by subscribing here
• Subscribe to the RSS feed using your favourite feed reader
• Follow @OLDaily@mastodon.social on Mastodon or elsewhere in the fediverse
• Follow @OLDaily on Twitter
• Integrate the open API using the JSON feed