Most online learning experiences involve some, if not a substantial amount, of reading. There are numerous practical and academic benefits to reading and the use of text-based content. Many learners prefer or need to have learning materials available in a “readable” form, which supports their individual note taking strategies and the use of assistive technologies. …
Whether you are designing for blended learning, an online MOOC, or organising a collection of learning resources, the curation of your online platform is just as important as the content itself. If you have ever used a virtual learning environment (VLE), or learning management system (LMS), you may have encountered a common problem. Quite often …
There’s something alluring and majestic about the the shape of a pyramid. You don’t have to be a mathematician (I certainly am not) to appreciate the way a pyramid naturally lends itself to represent common hierarchies and relationship concepts. Throughout the history of instructional design, the pyramid has appeared within both models of learning theory …
Linearity is often criticised as being at odds with learner-centred experiences. However, the creation and interrogation of lines and trajectories is also a fundamental component of how people learn. So how can we harness linear learning opportunities in a learner-centred way? Linear teaching tends to come under scrutiny when it unnecessarily defines and restricts learning …
Scavenger and treasure hunts are a great way to increase learner engagement, in face-to-face, blended and even online learning formats. There is actually a difference between scavenger and treasure hunts, although the names and formats tend to overlap. Treasure hunts tend to be about finding and solving clues to reach a final destination (the treasure). …
How to create scavenger hunts for online learning Read More »
We all want to say our online learning materials are engaging, but what does that really mean? One way to look at this issue is to consider the push-pull relationship between the course content and the learner. The idea that content may be “push” or “pull” is actually a popular marketing concept, which might sound …
Pedagogy is generally defined as the art, science and craft of teaching. The first pedagogues were Greek slaves who were responsible for caring for and instructing their masters’ children. In fact, the Greek origin of the word means ‘to lead the child’.
So, pedagogy may also be considered to be about nurture and pastoral care, as well as teaching. Despite the reference to children, the term is used fairly comfortably in adult education contexts. However, andragogy, which translates as ‘to lead the man’, may be used to refer specifically to the teaching of adults.
A number of related and derivative terms may be used to define particular fields of pedagogical interest, including digital pedagogy, critical pedagogy, and heutagogy.
