| I've been reading a great deal on learning and educational models for the future. One popular phrase describes a new model of "blended learning". I'm not a fan of that phrase, and here's why: blending sounds like some sort of bland, smoothed-out mixture of various techniques. Bland and smooth is NOT what we need. Instead, I like the idea of a Mosaic Learning model. Mosaics are made up of different, individual tiles. |  |
Each individual tile is distinctive. But the overall effect is a synthesis of of those individual, distinct tiles, and in the end is much different than something that is blended together into a homogenous mass.
The MOOC (Massive Open Online Class) is being hotly debated now in educational circles, often as a new model and replacement for the current model of coursework at the college and university level. I think MOOCs have much to offer; I'll plan to share some of my personal experience in future postings. But I view the MOOC not as a whole new mosaic, but instead as a new -- and valuable -- tile in a learning mosaic.
Rather than fighting the MOOC, and rather than blending something together, I'm recommending that we look at the overall learning mosaic that we build with each learner, and figure out how we pick and place the right pieces of the mosaic for the purposes we seek to achieve. We have many pieces of the mosaic available for our use, and technology is bringing new pieces that we could never dream possible in previous days.
The MOOC (Massive Open Online Class) is being hotly debated now in educational circles, often as a new model and replacement for the current model of coursework at the college and university level. I think MOOCs have much to offer; I'll plan to share some of my personal experience in future postings. But I view the MOOC not as a whole new mosaic, but instead as a new -- and valuable -- tile in a learning mosaic.
Rather than fighting the MOOC, and rather than blending something together, I'm recommending that we look at the overall learning mosaic that we build with each learner, and figure out how we pick and place the right pieces of the mosaic for the purposes we seek to achieve. We have many pieces of the mosaic available for our use, and technology is bringing new pieces that we could never dream possible in previous days.
RSS Feed