At the beginning of this course, we were given a list of adjectives and asked to choose the 5 essential characteristics for a learning experience. I chose well-written, user-driven, story-driven, interactive and engaging. My team also emphasized the importance of accessibility. Looking back on the list and reflecting on the past 7 weeks, I honestly…
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Performance Analytics
This week I wanted to return to the idea of data-driven learning design from earlier in the course. We are in the process of designing a Learner Dashboard at work (which will hopefully be developed and added to our LMS). For months, this Learner Dashboard was discussed in the abstract as the ultimate tool for…
Reflection 6: Collective Understanding
I’ve run into a few situations this week where the importance of establishing a collective understanding was particularly important. I think we often make assumptions about certain knowledge being a definite. This issue actually came up again earlier in the week during a curriculum development meeting. For months, our team has been debating our approach…
Reflection 5: Technology
As a web developer and ed tech specialist, I love the power that technology can bring to redefining learning. But I think we can sometimes lose track of the “why” and focus too much on the tools. It seems like too often when we talk about learning today the conversation tends to start and end…
Reflection 4: Storytelling
“There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story. ” I think it’s so important for us as learner developers to humanize learning. Stories make learners care. They can also take abstract learning and ground it in the real which helps learners empathize. When I first considered the role of storytelling in education, my…
Assignment 2: Deconstructing Duolingo
This assignment was a great way to reframe how I think about learning experiences. I’m not sure that learning can be as clearly delineated as Plaut’s Framework would like us to believe, but looking at each component: Strategy, Requirements, Structure, Interaction, Sensory can make it easier to find the gaps. Click the image above to…
Reflection 3: The Power of “Why?”
When I was still in the classroom and teaching Academic Writing, “Why?” was my most powerful tool for giving feedback and working with students: I know that this week was about much more than a single word- but I love that it started with “Why?”. “Yes- you’ve explained the challenges of learning a new language….
Learner Motivation & Assessment Culture
Expanding on the discussion of Learner Personas and understanding learner motivations, I wonder if we are feeding the learner obsession with tests through the assessment culture we’ve created. If we emphasize exams as the primary assessment tool, do we really have any right to become frustrated with students who emphasis learning that helps them excel…
Reflection 2: Understanding the Learner
It’s such an obvious concept – you need to know your learner in order to build a suitable and effective learner experience. But in practice, the motivations of the learners are often met with bemusement or scorn. In every field I’ve worked in (which now encompasses ESL, Engineering and Medicine), the learners all asked the…
Assignment 1: Universal Characteristics of Good Learning
Can all good learning experiences be measured on the same characteristics? What defines a “good” learning experience? I would argue that learning does require some key similarities: Coming from language education, I may be biased, but if we understand language as a key tool for collaboration, co-constructing knowledge, and learning, I would argue that one…