Introduction to pedagogy

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Introduction

JISC define e-learning as, 'learning facilitated and supported through the use of information and communications technology'. For teachers and trainers delivering programmes in the post 16 skills sector, technology offers new and exciting engagement opportunities to present knowledge and develop skills with learners. Yet, applying and using technology such as interactive whiteboards, smart phones and learning environments can sometimes present teaching (pedagogic) challenges. This wiki is intended to provide guidance for teachers and trainers in integrating and embedding e-learning in their teaching and training practice.

Pedagogy:

Pedagogy defined: noun, the profession, science, or theory of teaching. The method or strategy of teaching practice.

Pedagogy defines how a teacher approaches his or her methods of teaching and can include a deep understanding of different learners needs. McGilchrist, et-al, sited in (Collins, J. Insley, K. & Solar, J. 2001 p 2) identify three specific aspects; 1) The knowledge and understanding on the content of teaching. 2) Knowledge and understanding how students learn. 3) Knowledge and understanding on how to manage the learning process. Briggs and Sommefeldt (2002 p32) associate pedagogy, ‘with the skills teachers use to instruct or impart knowledge’, and acknowledge the challenge presented to teaching by ‘the technological revolution’.

  Good teaching may overcome a poor choice of technology, but technology will never save bad teaching.

ref : Tony Bates on e-learning

Definition : Pedagogical theories postulate & ruminate on how things should be taught and/or how one can bring someone to learn effectively.

Some primary sources of the different learning theories an educator can utilise.

One of the most basic approaches to understanding how we learn is to use a simple classification system devised by Bloom.
How Students Learn a Review of Some of the Main Theories.
a definition of pedagogy from the makers of Moodle VLE

A database of learning theory approaches

http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Category:Educational_theories

http://jisc.cetis.ac.uk/domain/pedagogy & http://www.elearning.ac.uk/features/whyped

http://www.educ.utas.edu.au/users/ilwebb/Research/pedagogy.htm

Methods guides & frameworks

Staffordshire University runs a very successful commmunity of practice that helps build on the bestpractice models moodle resources. Go here first (require login). Together with the above Moodle Helen Walmsley has developed a wiki that helps to define other best practice models, eg. [http://staffordshireuniversity.pbworks.com/Best+Practice+Model+for+Online+Events online events

The Austrialin felxible learning framework has a set of guides and case studies help to design elearning.
The Academy Language Subject Centre have developed a Learning Object Creator which is designed for non technical academic staff wishing to develop a pedagogic approach to using/creating online resources. blended LOC workshop will take place in October 2009 in Dundee.
The Learning by doing experiential framework developed by Gibbs and orginally Kolb, provides a sound basis for student centred approaches to learning. This webiste also covers introduction to learning theories and also learning styles.

A useful paper entitled An integrated on-line/classroom-based language-learning environment oultines some excellent ideas for creating engaging online courses.

Gloucestershire University Centre for Active Learning (CeAL) has a handy set of pedagogic guides, including an enquiry based learning planner.
Sharing Good Practice in Teaching and Learning

Handbook of Emerging Technologies for Learning is a useful guide for an introduction into technology supported learning basics.

The Phoebe pedagogic planner is a guide to help you choose the most appropriate tool to support effective teaching and learning. Exemplars help illustrate the different approaches.

The STOLEN model is an excellent example of structuring a wiki for effective learning.

The dial-e framework. Spread across ten separate learning designs, the pedagogical exemplars illustrate how lecturers and teaching staff might use the Newsfilm Online archive resources to engage learners in meaningful and challenging activities.

A webquest is a simple but effective framework to build interactive and strong collaborative inquiry based learning.

The useful e-learning sampler framework builds upon the successful Hybrid Learning Model and the Learning Events Model.

The BECTA quality principles is a good primer for designing learning resources, with the learning in mind.

Paving the Way - a useful guide from nln that ensures the underpining pedagogy is addressed when designing learning objects.

Whilst UKOLN has a similar guide for those needing assistance when designing effective learning resources;

Connexions is an environment for collaboratively developing, freely sharing, and rapidly publishing scholarly content on the Web. Our Content Commons contains educational materials for everyone — from children to college students to professionals — organized in small modules that are easily connected into larger collections or courses. All content is free to use and reuse under the Creative Commons "attribution" license.

Cloudworks allows you to find other people's learning and teaching ideas, designs and experiences as well as sharing your own. You can also get access to many learning design tools and resources to help you create learning designs. Take a while to preuse the recent (summer 09) cloudworks design bash that resulted in some intersting ideas.

Help define level of ICT knowledge by using this handy diagnostic tool:

e-pedagogy

This section will cover the application of traditional pedagogic approaches applied to technology supported learningor e-learning. This section also complements the growing use of Web 2.0 tools (blogs, wikis, social networks, etc) that often lie outside of a learning organisations "network". Most are proving to be viewed as platforms which encourage more active (student centred) learning. Access our Web 2.0 page which also covers emerging effective practices in Web 2.0 pedagogic approaches.

The JISC interactive curriculum Design Studio contains a number of tools to help you rethink the curriculum. Use in conjunction with the new approaches to curriculum design publication.
Using digital technologies to support teachers in designing effective technology-enhanced learning

is a pedagogic planner building on previous frameworks. Developed with Diana Laurillard.

Stephen Downes explains his theories behind the new epedagogy connectivism
Blooms taxonomies have been mashed up to cope with the digital age. These two guides help educators understand how to use technologies for differing learning levels;

  http://visualblooms.wikispaces.com/ 
  http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Bloom%27s+Digital+Taxonomy

Learning Materials at a Distance short guide from the Academy.

The latest (June 2009) JISC publication entitled Effective Practice in a Digital Age contains a useful pathways chooser to help you choose and understand the technologies that support differing pedagogic approaches.

Downes and Siemens on their large internet based 'Connectivism & Connective Knowledge' course suggest that the future of learning lies on online networks, rather than in a structured institutionally controlled environment. They see how the second wave of Internet technologies could be instrumental in moving from a hierarchical teaching approach to a networked approach. Ref Rita Kop : http://fredkop.blogspot.com/

A free course on epedagogy. Practical instruments for teachers to develop online learning activities. It contains practical scenarios to contextualise each area discussed.

Approaches to teaching and learning online.

External links

Links to external web sites containing further theoretical research or exemplars.

This Phillip Long interview on Technology-Enabled Active Learning explains a radical move to revamp the traditional lecture style into a more engaging format; using small groups, voting systems, problem based learning, and a move to a learner centred pedagogy generally. Listen to the 45 minute podcast interview.

This research paper/book covers pragmatic example of the pedagogical frameworks required to successfully move to Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning. A very useful read and well researched.

Transforming curriculum delivery through technology. Includes 15 projects investigating how the appropriate integration of technology can help institutions respond to changing learner and employer needs to deliver a more engaging and flexible learning experience. The projects involve both further and higher education institutions and illustrate use of different media, tools and technologies in different areas of curriculum delivery.

A collection of Online Pedagogy Links.

a list of links I compiled in the summer of 2009 for learning design :

http://kev-brace.blogspot.com/2009/01/online-learning-design.html

User-defined content in a constructivist learning environment research paper.

HEA shared weblinks of teaching & learning resources:

These very useful pointers are worth further investigation: Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever, by Arthur W. Chickering and Stephen C. Ehrmann.

Access the entire ebook of The Theory and Practice of Online Learning edited by Terry Anderson, 2008. This book covers learning theories and their application to the online domain.

The University of Gloucestershire pedgagogic research unit has a good selection of publications which can be downloaded for free, including Gibbs, G (1988) Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods London: Further Education Unit.

Introduction to andragogy consists of learning strategies focused on adults.

References:

Collins, J. Insley, K. & Solar, J. (ed) (2001) Developing Pedagogy, Researching Practice, Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd, A Sage Publications Company, London ISBN 0 7619 6934 9

Briggs, A, K; Sommefeldt, D. (2002) Managing Effective Learning and Teaching, Sage Publications Ltd. London.