Optimal flow is the mental state of operation in which the person is fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus. Taken along side Daniel Pink's notions of autonomy, mastery and purpose, this can provide a powerful foundation for creating a series of instruments about what flow looks like. Social engagement, academic engagement and intellectual engagement are key - the move away from a sense of 'jumping through the hoops'.
Blended learning is the organic integration of thoughtfully selected and complementary face-to-face and online approaches and technologies...and this is closely links to fundamental re-design. Blended learning in a weak sense is simply an additional layer to current teaching practices. Putting together various technologies, there are some great examples of the use of non-institutional social platforms, where the focus is on empowerment, collaboration and co-construction of knowledge.
Local mentors are paramount to support people on the ground when implementing blended learning to help address challenges. It is also about the networks that you develop. The five clusters to help shape blended learning are:
- Active and collaborative learning,
- student interactions with faculty members,
- level of academic challenge,
- enriching educational experiences
- supportive campus environment.
Workload (overwhelming), out of class time and inquiry based learning are linked to the least effective aspects of courses.
Blended learning using the guidelines that were introduced in this session, Norm advises, can provide the scaffolding that can support students in a move toward more autonomous collaborative learning experience and skill-set.
Image: Image: 'February Dawn' http://www.flickr.com/photos/16772638@N00/2262492872. Found on flickrcc.net
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment