In my ThingLink introduction, I mention my goal to help adults learn how to learn. In response, a colleague asked, “Do you think helping one to learn is the same or similar to the idea that we have to learn how to learn and that is what we are doing as educators? Not just focusing on the subject content, but helping one learn how to learn about the content?” These are my thoughts: When you say "helping one to learn", I immediately think about facilitating the process of learning. So, yes. However, even though facilitators are educators, not all educators are facilitators. The difference is between subject-matter oriented “teaching” and learner-centered “facilitation”. They definitely both have their place in learning, and they are both a different process. Even though one of the characteristics of adult learners is self-directedness, we can’t assume that learners have the same abilities to be self-directed. This is where helping them learn how to learn comes into play. It’s not just remembering facts that someone else thinks are important, it’s about enabling learners to explore information and expand on it so that it is meaningful to them, and allows them to continue the process for whatever purpose they require. Rounding back to EdTech, using technology may facilitate learning by providing different methods of exploration. It might also may mean facilitating the use of the technology to enable learners to do that, like using ThingLink as an introductions activity in class. Module 1: Analyzing Current Trends in Educational Technology
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What's this about?Documenting my exploration of Ed Tech and how it applies to the field of Adult Education. These are my Ang-ventures. ...see more Archives
April 2017
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