#Change11 #CCK12 Why is personalised education and learning important?

“It’s people finding a place in their learning.”

“What’s your passion?”

“What should we learn as a 21st century learner?”

There are all sorts of questions raised in education.

Howard Gardner remarks that there are lots of people who are good in IQ.  However, it seems that more important things include sensitizing young students  to develop their potential, so they could contribute in doing “good work project” in community and society, and focus on respect, ethics and responsibility.  It is also about respect on people, on not only those who are agreeing with us, but also those who are holding different views from us, and those who may have power on us.

I think this is also an important way of connecting with others in a sensitive, and open way, in order to learn from each others, in a global network and community.

I reckon there is also the fundamental question that we have to respond:

Why is personalized education and learning important at this era?

Tony adds flavor here on Designing online learning for the 21st century.

He concludes that:

• we know how to teach well online; follow best practice
• however, we also need to innovate: incrementally and evaluate
• innovation in teaching needs to be rewarded more
• systematic training of both instructors and senior administrations is essential for success

These concepts are also illustrated in the video here.

Whilst I agree that more emphasis would be necessary for workforce development, in particular on the training of instructors and administrators, I think it is important to reflect on the purpose of education and learning – that goes beyond good teaching.  These include the combination of innovative teaching and technology which support learning.

To what extent is the statement true?“…if innovative teaching practices are connected without technology you get great experience with no scale; technology applied without great teaching, you get very little change…; great innovative teaching with great technology you get scale and change and lasting impact” in Anthony’s presentation and shared in the post by George.

Here I would like to relate to my previous post:

Construction of knowledge through play, sounds more in alignment with the Constructionism that was conceived and invented by Seymour Papert. That seems to be the mastermind of learning among the younger generations, when learning with learning objects, games and digital artifacts.

People realize that digital devices – mobiles and computer technology and media are available at our finger tips, and so they could learn at a place where, when, how they found most convenient to them.  Such modes of learning make up a substantial portion of our overall learning, and often around 70 to 90% of learning could be derived from learning through games, conversation over virtual networks, discursive learning over different social media, and serendipitous learning while navigating networks, videos, or artifacts.

So, it seems that learning through games and play has been one of the characteristics of MOOCs, where learning and conversation might be built on fun and game activities, as is in the case of DS106 developed by Jim Groom, where digital stories were created and developed by the learners.

I am particularly attracted to the video referred by Heli on learning where Dr. Otto Sharmer highlighting the two different sources of learning.

Learning from the past, with learning from reflection of the experiences of the past and learning from the future as it emerges.  I think this is based on future emergent learning, and is different from that at school.  One needs to retreat and reflect more deeply, and listen to everything we have learned, and how it relates to who I am, and to explore the future, using different feedback. This requires open mind, open heart, and open will, which are the deeper mode of learning and emerging into the future.   This requires suspension of judgement, and one needs to overcome the fear often associated with learning in an unknown future.

I think Howard Gardner sums it up well in this video why personalised education and learning is important in his Multiple Intelligence.