Finally found time to join the conference, even then only the recording. Started with Diana Oblinger’s talk which so far is re-iterating things we all know already but done in a very engaging way. At first there does not seem to be a focus on Higher Education as I was expecting.
I was thinking are we going to talk about the relevance of this for student learning? Then we came to the section on implications.
Implications
- distributed cognition
don’t see how this works - I agree that expertise can reside in a number of different people/places but is this actually distributing intelligence and learning - is learning not in the mind of the beholder? Seems to be about aiding cognition by using activities which are supported by technology and allowing students to work in communities. Information can be shared but can understanding?
- any place is a learning space
technology enhances the environment - flexibility is the key - so we need ubiquitous computing on campus and off - libraries are changing, but not always i the way that people want - wireless access that works for all
- net savvy
our students and ourselves - need to be able to evaluate information - key for students just because they are IT literate it does not mean that they are e-learning literate - are there issues about providing open information? People are more aware of the implications of providing and using information now but what about stuff they published in the past before they became net savvy?
What do we need to do now?
Widening definition of learning - does our model reflect present circumstances - do we need to use communication and networks more? How do our students define learning.
Develop skills about use of images and other ways of representing information rather than just using text?
Re-assess and unlearn - get rid of debilitating prejudices - CPD
Not about preserving the past but creating the future - agreed