Shelagh A. McGrath works with Metrix Group as the Director of Virtual Learning. Shelagh’s passion for innovative solutions results in the creative use of educational technologies to inspire personal development. To learn more about Shelagh or contact her, check out her profile on LinkedIn.
Q. Technology seems to turn science fiction into reality. What benefits can we draw from technology to increase collaboration in our organizations?
Educators are now placing more emphasis on inspiring learners to focus learning -how to learn, and things like the value of universal learning opportunities. Heurtagogy focuses on all learning contexts inclusive of formal, informal, and the improvement of a person’s skill to learn. Technology will play a huge role in that.
An individual can utilize the internet for example to construct a self-directed learning plan that includes collaborating with knowledge experts and peers through blogs and wikis, discussion forums and access to banks of excellent information.
Facilitators are learning how to instruct in these environments through collaborating with other professionals. These immersive experiences are powerful and meaningful- and I think that is a rather transformational way to learn.
Q. Do you think that collaboration could spur innovation in the field of instructor-led training and development?
I believe more focus will take place in the areas of virtual facilitation, attention to the self-directedness of the learner and individual learning style. Technology will support the facilitator to identify the learning styles they are working with more effectively and apply the best mix of virtual solutions for the learner.
Technology enhances the ability of the individual to organize their learning support and information. Facilitators play an important role in guiding the learner to focus on “how to learn” in the best and most effective way for them. The facilitator provides the learner with guidance on owning their learning, supporting their learning in a much different way with technology.
As we know the variation in individual learning styles is always a challenge for designing effective learning opportunities. Technology permits the construction of innovative learning methods that appeal to the different learning styles – auditory, visual, tactile, and reading/writing preference.
Q. Why do you stress individual learning styles so much?
Technology has an impact on the various learning styles- giving each an advantage to obtain more knowledge. The technology used in the far past supported or excluded people depending on their learning style. For example, when auditory learning was prevalent other learning style missed out, with the advent of the printing press reading oriented learners flourished.
Although instructional designers today spend a lot more effort in inclusive designs, they are still somewhat handicapped by incorporating the four styles in one learning event. Technology offers instructional designers the means to innovatively create learner style focused individual paths.
Those people willing to invest effort in what I call advantage based learning programs (programs designed for a specific individual learning style) will see a higher level of educational accreditation and “learning” and learners reaching a competency level in a shorter period of time. This does not exclude learners from one another – it means simply a different approach.
Q. Do you think “online learning communities” will have an impact on our future teachers and learners?
Here’s an example- it is very easy in my opinion to locate tools and resources for the audio learner, the visual learner and the reader/writer…the tactile learner presents a bit more of a challenge.
Virtual worlds present a whole new world of interesting approaches and tools to really drive excellent learning opportunities. I would class these as “online communities”- with a twist.
Imagine a virtual world and a lesson on an organizational process. Imagine a group of varying learning styles. The process is displayed visually and explained verbally, typed in text and instructions are given to the group to physically build this process together in a 3D representation.
Together in their learning style groups, the visual learners provide the “pictures”, the auditory learners talk through the building process, the reader /writer records the steps and the tactile learner builds the structures. They come together and finalize the process.
As a team they critique it, make it better, and share their different perspectives.
Together they experience the process- and the process of how to learn, how to interact with diverse styles and how to appreciate the value they bring to the learning.
Technology can be frightening for some and to progress effectively we need to pay attention to supporting the learner and an effort and investment in computer infrastructure and hardware- but also supporting the learner to acknowledge and adapt is vitally important.
Imagine your first visit to a virtual learning environment. Real time, real people represented through your avatar. Individuals have a personal idea of what learning looks like.
When what they initially experience is not what they expect they have a negative reaction – be that subconsciously or consciously. As innovative facilitators we need to utilize on line communities like virtual worlds by creating a recognition factor.
Imagine an orientation in a virtual world for a new learning opportunity. We go on a tour of recognizable learning environments- classrooms, labs, books, a chalkboard, computers- then a trip to a futurist classroom.
This classroom could be under the ocean, in space, in a component part of a computer, or automobile, inside of a mobile phone…and reflect the topic you are facilitating. By associating the old with the potential “new” we create a safety or security through a recognition factor of the old…and openness to a new experience.
Online communities support knowledge sharing and new approaches to challenges.
These types of environments exist now and will only continue to expand and develop with new and innovative ideas generated in teams of likeminded individuals.
Not only virtual worlds, but also online communities that many of the social computing networks support, encourage discussion, sharing, and knowledge exchange.
These are absolutely fantastic places for people to learn and grow. Their vibrant presence becomes an everyday support to many and will only continue to afford individuals a space to ask questions, learn, share opinions and expand horizons.
I think the next ten years in the training and education filed will be exciting and interesting as we grapple with new ways of facilitating, learning, and adapting to technological advances.
What books, blogs, and/or magazines would you recommend for our readers?
Blogs
For online learning, information technology, and advocacy for accessibility:
http://www.interactyx.com/blog {not included in original post}
Books
The Theory and Practice of Online Learning, second edition edited by Terry Anderson
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At Interactyx, we believe in virtual learning. We have developed the best value in social learning management system softwae, TOPYX, to make award-winning tools available for any business, academic institution or association. Get a free demonstration of social LMS software, TOPYX, and see what virtual learning is all about!
