This was a difficult topic for me to research, partly because Open Learning is so hard to define, partly because it still not heavily researched for K12 education, and partly because a lot of what is considered Open Learning includes practices that young teachers like myself take for granted and just assume are a regular part of education. So I will try to define Open Learning, and in doing so also define Blended Learninga and Connected Learning, which seem to be subgroups of Open Learning. After that I will try analyse Open Learning (and in doing so, generalize about its subgroups Blended and Connected Learning as well) in order to answer the question, Why open learning? I will then conclude with my impressions about Open Learning and where I feel it can go from here. What is Open Learning: Vioreanu, 2016, describes open learning simply as “the ability for anyone to access the educational offer.” According to Graham, et. al., n.d., “Open learning is described as learning that occurs in a shared and transparent manner in which others can reuse, revise, remix, and/or redistribute the evidence of learning with others (Wiley,2009). Open learning encourages collaboration, connections, networked learning, and interdependence between educators and learners.” The authors ask, “What if learning was not restricted to a closed room with responsibility left to just one adult” but instead connected students to a global community where education is reused, repurposed, and remixed (Graham, et. al., n.d.). Vioreanu, 2016 defines Open Learning by listing what she believes to be its six characteristics:
Blended Learning Blended Learning seems to fall under the umbrella of open learning, where teachers can choose some traditional, classroom focused lecture type class time, and then some extension of the “classroom learning into the online environment, creating open learning opportunities outside of, and integrated with,the classroom” (Graham, et. al., n.d.). Why Open Learning: First I have to say, Why not? and I think that is the approach a lot of Alaskan administrators are taking because of location, drop out rate, teacher turnover, and an inability to offer a variety of courses. Furthermore, according to Graham, et.al., n.d., “Today’s education system is constantly barraged with challenges to be innovative, build 21st Century” and Open Learning allows for and encourages the building of these skills in students. Open Learning is “more personalized, flexible and adapt[s] to individual learner’s needs” in a world where “the nature of community has rapidly shifted from its small, regional roots growing to become an interconnected, digital world of instant communications” (Graham, et. al., n.d.). It not only changes the nature of the learning for the students, but also increases collaboration and learning among educators. Ito, et.al., 2013 reiterate the connectedness between Open Learning, where students are learning in spaces that integrate “knowledge, culture, and social practice” and therefore bring together and integrate “the motivations, content, and abilities from social, interest-driven, and formal educational spheres can expand the reach of meaningful and sustained learning.” This is powerful stuff! It’s more real-world, it seeks to eliminate the closed door teaching of the past, it better prepares students for their futures, and it is a system that is evolving with the nature of our society and humanity. Initial Impressions: My feelings on Open Learning are pretty clear: it’s basically the direction teaching must go because humans are too connected to just sit behind a closed door for teaching and learning anymore. While I have to acknowledge the lack of research in K12 Open Learning models (Grant, et.al, n.d; Ito, et.al., 2013), I also have to acknowledge the fact that I use online resources and shared resources all the time, constantly, every time I teach a lesson; I have taught blended classes that are distance delivered from UAF but with me as an on-site teacher guiding students; I have gone to lectures from principals and superintendents who use the blended learning model in their schools and have seen massive improvements in grades and test scores, and the reduction of drop out rates. Last but not least, I have spent time with children and know how quickly and easily they use technology to connect and how limiting it feels to constrict your learning to one room and one teacher. I agree with Graham, et.al., n.d., when they claim, “Blended learning ... combine[s] the best elements of online and face-face instruction … [and is] likely to emerge as the predominant teaching model of the future.” What seals the deal for me is the claim from Graham, et.al. that Open Learning is rooted in the theories of Maria Montessori because it emphasizes student choice and learning through experience. I truly believe open learning and more specifically blended learning is the future of education. Sites Consulted/Future Resources:
http://www.ck12.org/student/ Richer variety of STEM resources but some ELA also www.oercommons.org Database of online lessons and instructional resources https://wiki.mozilla.org/Webmaker/WebLiteracyMap Resources about web literacy References: DeGula, L. (2012, July 11.) Teaching Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet. -- Curriki. Retrieved July 10, 2016, from http://www.curriki.org/oer/Teaching-Shakespeare--Romeo-and-Juliet Graham, L., LaBonte, R., Roberts, V., O’Byrne, I., & Osterhout, C. (n.d.). Open Learning in K-12 Online and Blended Learning Environments. Retrieved July 10, 2016, from http://www.academia.edu/10311797/Open_Learning_in_K-12_Online_and_Blended_Learning_Environments Ito, Mizuko, Kris Gutiérrez, Sonia Livingstone, Bill Penuel, Jean Rhodes, Katie Salen, Juliet Schor, Julian Sefton-Green, S. Craig Watkins. (2013.) Connected Learning: An Agenda for Research and Design. Irvine, CA: Digital Media and Learning Research Hub. Vioreanu, D. (2016, February 15). The 6 Characteristics of Openness. Retrieved July 10, 2016, from http://www.distancelearningportal.com/articles/237/the-6-characteristics-of-openness.html
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EDET678Emerging Technologies Archives
August 2016
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