Derek Harding

Novel Approaches to Learning On-line

Introduction

• Main points– Learning and teaching online is not the

same as conventional approaches (even though there may be some similarities)

– Newcomers tend to make the mistake of thinking about the technology rather than the learning it helps facilitate

– Newcomers also tend to make the mistake of thinking about content rather than pedagogical design

Considerations

• What approaches work best?– Inclusive: participants work as a team– Empowering: students are allowed to

take a considerable degree of control over their own learning

– Flexible: responsive to changing needs of students and the contexts they are working in

Examples

• Simple Interactive lectures• Media rich activities

http://chic.tees.ac.uk/meteor• Webquests http://edweb.sdsu.edu

/courses/edtec596/about_webquests.html

• Discussion groups

• Empowering the students

Conclusion

• Learning is more of a group activity with tutors acting as facilitators

• Students use their peers as well as tutors to help them learn

• Requires trust between the learners and tutors

• Good pedagogical design results in rich learning experiences for students and a better working environment for staff