PLENK2010, Learning Theories and Problems in Week 4
This week we discuss learning theories. A topic which make a lot of participants problems - me too. In my mind theoretical texts are often not easy to read and it becomes even harder in a foreign language. Furthermore we didn’t get some proposed blog posts or articles for reading as in the weeks before. We got lists, very long lists with links to loads of texts about learning theories in which we have to take a choice.
On the other hand the facilitators recommended to read the blogpost of Dave Cormier “Cluster and Focus -> Surviving Week 4 in a MOOC”. It is about two strategies (“cluster” and “focus”) to “survive” week four.
Below step 4 “Focus” he said: “I think that those who do well in MOOCs are often those who find something in their professional activities, find a particular angle of interest in the learning materials… something that they can turn into their own final project.”
And therefore I am sure I won’t get lost in this week although I won’t read anymore articels in this week. My main focus in this MOOC lays on the M (= mass) and it is my aim to get knowledge about concept of tutoring such a mass. Personal Learning Environments & Networks as well as connectivism are also interesting to me but as still said, they are not on my main focus.
And those who have also their problems with learning theories and haven’t a defined goal I can recommend the current blogpost of Rita Kop in which she argued the relation between practice and theory.
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There is an interesting
There is an interesting discussion in the moodle forum which goes with my thoughts: "Is it the topic or the period of the course?"
Hi Nicole, it is really
Hi Nicole, it is really interesting to read your comment and I admire you very much for navigating too in another language :) It is very interesting about the practical application to see if what you are thinking applies or not.
I am trying this in a couple of ways - trying to encourage colleagues at Surrey University but so far this has not worked very well. There was initial interest but it has all gone quiet. I tried to set up a FB group because I thought they might feel a bit more comfortable in a group, but none of them signed up to that either. I might learn from that - maybe as Dave Cormier said last night - PLENK is not for novices - and all my colleagues are novices to PLE and PLN, some are also quite new to teaching / lecturing. Maybe my interaction with them could also have been improved - it was very rushed at the beginning and although we planned to collaborate we did not actually do anything to work out how that might happen. I am also in a collaboration not education role at the moment so that may affect my understanding of how best to help them, even though a PLENK colleague has very kindly offered to help. They are still potentially organising some learning experiences but I don't know if I will be involved. I don't think it is wasted though - as an experience to learn from - and even one conversation with generating ideas is something.
Sorry for lots of English ! I can only write a few words of German - not enough to make myself understand probably.
Nicola
It is very interesting to
It is very interesting to read about your thoughts & activities and their results. Fortunately I am just in an observer position at the moment, but of course I'd like to get some new ideas for my further work. I am with you that PLE/Ns needs high self learning competencies and in this case it is nothing for novices. A deficit that, I assume, a lot of our students - especially since Bologna - have. I just realize in our discussion that cultivate these competencies will be another important issue for me to think about. Though that's not a new topic I think I have to emphasize it.