This post summarises a ‘think piece’ I wrote in 2021 for the QAA Scotland Enhancement Theme of Resilient Learning Communities on Understanding Micro-Credentials and Small Qualifications. The full paper examines micro-credentials from the perspective of students and is available here. You can read my earlier posts on the wider challenges of micro-credentials here and on … Read more
Here is a sketchnote of the podcast discussion on education and neuroscience between Neil Selwyn and Michael Thomas as part of the Meet the Education Researcher podcast. The podcast itself was really interesting for someone, like me, who knows little about neuroscience and its applications to education. In particular, the challenges of near and far … Read more
In a recent blog post on WonkHE, David Kernohan states that micro-credentials should be distinguished by referring to discrete or standalone learning experiences “…not just a possible component of something bigger”. So a micro-credential is not a single module of a larger degree, or various degree programmes. While the rest of his post raises many … Read more
This report from JISC is of FE college students’ experiences of digital education. The survey was conducted between October 2019 and May 2020 so covers the emergency shift to remote teaching. About two-thirds of the 19,137 responses are from the pre-pandemic and one-third form the pandemic periods. Learners and their technology Access to digital devices … Read more
A recent paper in IRRODL Elements of Open Education: An Invitation to Future Research, caught my eye on future research in open education. Theories of open education The authors provide a tour of theories of open learning starting with Wedemeyer’s (1971) conceptualisation of openness as wholly self-directed learning. This resonates with some recent perspectives on … Read more
Its been a busy week with the start of the new academic year being in somewhat challenging circumstances. However, my teaching is all online and I’m ready to start teaching next week. It has also been the week of the launch of the Manifesto for Teaching Online including a programme of launch seminars. Otherwise, here … Read more
This week has been a lot of ‘heads down’ course designing and building type work. I did find the following of interest: Fostering online learning “research into online learning almost univocally agrees that…well-designed courses with interactive content..continuous educator involvement..timely, and formative feedback are the most promising approaches to fostering learning in online environments” https://t.co/JfHeTd1BsT— Neil … Read more
This useful Twitter thread from Kate Symons on advice students to engage in online learning. This is an important aspect of successful online learning and too often neglected. This neglect may be as a result of the lazy assumptions regarding the digital native. While the idea of a generational break in digital capabilities has clearly … Read more
This is a really useful thread of learning design frameworks in higher education. A thread compiling #LearningDesign #frameworks, #toolkits and other delights in #HigherEducation – please add to pic.twitter.com/vz8GLKn31Y — Danielle M Hinton, SFHEA (@hintondm) February 21, 2019 This has proved to be a popular thread and compiles a good list of useful resources. A … Read more
Its good to see a call for a special issue of the Journal of Management Education on experiential learning in large classes. The call for papers is available here. The call states: The aim of this special issue is to contribute to new understandings of how experiential learning can be used to engage students and … Read more