Effective eLearning in LDB Jenny Kellie, Project Director Learn Direct & Build 17/03/06

The Project Learning Transformation for MA’s in Brickwork Carpentry and Joinery Painting and Decorating Roofing and Tiling Stonework

The FE Partners Moray College Glasgow Metropolitan College North Highland College Inverness College Aberdeen College Edinburgh’s Telford College Lauder College

Effective Practice: What? Effective eLearning should: Engage learners in the learning process Encourage independent learning skills Develop learners’ skills and knowledge Motivate further learning

Effective Practice: How? Effective eLearning will happen if there’s: The right resources The right blend of delivery modes The right content and context The right learners The right level of support

Defining Approaches to Learning PerspectiveAssumptionsAssociated Pedagogy AssociativeLearning as acquiring competence Learners actively construct new ideas by building and testing hypotheses. -Focus on competences -Routines of organised activities -Progressive difficulty - Clear goals and feedback - Individual pathways matched to individual prior performance Constructive (Individual Focus) Learning as achieving understanding Learners acquire new knowledge by building associations between different concepts. Learners gain skills by building progressively complex actions from component skills. - Interactive environments for knowledge building - Activities that encourage experimentation and discovery of principles - Support for reflection and evaluation

Defining Approaches to Learning PerspectiveAssumptionsAssociated Pedagogy Constructive (Social Focus)Learning as achieving understanding Learners actively construct new ideas through collaborative activities and/or through dialogue. -Interactive environments for knowledge building - Activities that encourage collaboration - Support for reflection, peer review and evaluation SituativeLearning as social practice Learners develop their identity through participation in specific communities and practices. -Participation in social practices of enquiry and learning - Support for development of learning skills - Dialogue to facilitate the development of learning relationships

Which Approach? Them all! Selection depends on: Subject Learners Values Practitioners

Technology Needs Connectivity – access to information on a global scale Flexibility – learning occuring any place, any time Interactivity – immediate and autonomous assessment Collaboration – discussion forums supporting collaborative learning beyond the traditional classroom Extended Opportunities – reinforcement and extension of classroom-based learning Motivation – providing interest, engagement and fun Compliant – SCORM, W3C and infrastructure Industry Standard – common toolsets, IP transfer and rapid development

The Solution Design for best learning, not best use of technology!