Evidence of 21st Century Learning on a Learning Platform
By Paul McMahon on Jun 21, 2009 in Ideas for Great Lessons, Learning for a Flat World and tagged 21stC, inquiry, LMS, MYP, VLE
In the lead up to the conference, I have been meeting with quite a few vendors. Some of these have been learning platform vendors. These guys have the unenviable task of trying to sell their product to schools who are not really clear on what they want to use it for. Some schools for example convey to the community that their programmes are inquiry based and student centered but then they say that the platform must hold lots of past papers and worksheets that to all intents and purposes look exactly what I used when was taught 40 years ago!
I am currently out of Hong Kong working in Australia but I know that the many of the schools in Hong Kong have closed down due to the Swine Flu Pandemic. There is a lot of talk about how the students can still do work online. I am wondering how effective it is and, if it still follows the inquiry model?
Given that many of the schools say that they have been prepared for this to happen for some time now, it should be easy to see how schools have used these tools effectively. I, for one, am curious to know if it is possible to see 21st Century Learning in evidence on a portal? It is easy to direct kids to a website to do activities and write reports or submit results but what would we see on the portal if the students are engaged in communication, collaboration and creative endeavors leading to innovation?
I would appreciate your thoughts.
1 Comment(s)
Skoolaborate takes that online environment a step further. Yes online environments can work and can really ’set up’ learning for kids and even have them go and do projects then come back to report on them but they still lack that personal touch. Virtual Worlds allow a bit more of that touch. Skoolaborate has students communication in real time or asynchronously around curriculum projects. We haven’t had any cases of swine flu to date and the virtual component allows students to feel that they are part of a ‘living’ community. Personally I think the answer lies in participating. The more our Skoolaborate schools try things the more we learn and we are now so much better than we were 2 years ago. I would say that some of our students and teachers could survive without the face to face branch as we speak. Within a few years I think there will be many more but not unless they start soon.