Get Your Students Hired
A key to providing opportunities for growth and development is to provide learning environments that fundamentally are designed to engage the learner holistically and completely. Dynamic learning environments fuse the acquisition of new knowledge and the integration of those concepts to practice through meaningful exchanges and experiences. It provides multiple platforms in relation to course delivery and materials. It also fully supports the ideas of learner diversity and the need for multiple approaches and avenues for developing introspection and metacognition. In this model, not only does the facilitator guide activities, but it is also the responsibility of the learner to engage not only in the process of self-reflection and discovery, but also as a collaborative member of the course.
I think that variety is one of the most beneficial and distinguishing characteristics of a dynamic learning environment. Activities can be developed to match different learning styles and students can have choices in the types of activities they participate in.
I think it holds the student more responsible for there own learning as well. The student needs to be involved in the lesson much more than just being interested in it.
Blended or hybrid courses have become increasingly popular as they combine the 'best of both worlds,' so to speak - they allow for a high level of flexibility for students in terms of providing asynchronous connection, interaction, and communication opportunities but still provide face-to-face opportunities with the teacher and peers.
Alan,
All true :) the concept of dynamic learning environments must also include the learner choice and customization of the space. This means that each learner can pursue their own learning in their own way. This also means that the instructor must rethink design and intervention throughout.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I have yet to teach a blended class. But my initial anticipation is that the students will have real time interaction with additional links, blogs,and chats that can't happen as effectively in the on-ground classroom. I can see the opportunity for those students who are hesitant to participate in classroom discussions and group projects are provided an opportunity to overcome their reservations by engaging in the variety of blended avenues. It is easy to understand how chats and discussion boards could become very lively at times with even more involvement than campus classrooms.
I agree, Deborah, and have found the same with students. Often those students who have difficulty participating in a conventional classroom experience will have a much more effective learning experience in a dynamic environment - I also agree with your comments about student anonynimity...
The learning environment is more engaging than conventional environments. Students may be more readily to "speak" in a dynamic environment. From my experience, students don't like to ask questions in class because they fear that the other students will think it is a "stupid" question. Students who have questions will come to me after class to ask their questions or email me their questions.
Ileana, while most instructors think of technology as "delivering" assessments (quizzes, tests etc.) the use of technology can actually be assessed. That is, creating assignments where students have to use technology to search, organize, capture and present work using multimedia tools. The assessment should then be of the use of technology as well as the actual content AND process by which it was accomplished.
Yes, I do. We want the technology tools to be integrated into the curriculum to teach the material and not just for extra work on top of lectures. Really need to think this through when designing a blended course. If not, it comes across as busy work.
Excellent points and observations, Ileana. Do you think changes should be made in the overall instructional design in order to fully integrate technology tools and identify assessment methods?
When we create dynamic learning environments for our students we help them to become active learners and more responsible for their own learning. This is so important for the sciences and health sciences because information is constantly changing with new research.
Many techniques can be used in the conventional classroom to achieve active learning, but the use of technology can move students from being passive learners in a teacher-directed classroom towards a student-directed learning environment much easier. Using chats, interesting discussion questions, blogs, and web searches are just a few ways to achieve dynamic learning in a classroom.
That is a good point in that communication is the key, and the question then arises have we taught good communication skills throughout the earlier levels of education? As the students proceed through courses, they begin to develop their own communication style or style of writing which best suits them. Naturally, as well as illustrating points which are of importance not only to them, but to the situation they are responding to
Some students. Interestingly enough, will as they would in a traditional classroom have a tendency to hold back until they see others post to the forum. Once they see these they can relate directly to the situation or circumstance and respond accordingly. Naturally, there could be an opportunity for some discourse to develop, but this again can be an instructor controlled environment.
Students seem to enjoy the flexibility and the opportunity to express their own characteristic nature of freedom of not only construction, but sharing of knowledge within this particular environment. This sharing of knowledge, though, must be controlled so that the informational flow stays on course with the topical material being discussed
A major part of the dynamic only class from in the sense of the learning environment is for the instructor to be involved with in discussion forums and topics in order to keep it not only moving along, but acting as the experts in the particular field being discussed. Discussion forums or discussion rooms, where students interact solely on their own knowledge being their own experts can have a negative factor in the learning environment.
While the student may have a greater opportunity and control over their learning environment and situation. It must be remembered that it requires a certain level of motivation in order to achieve these goals. I believe that sometimes students need necessary motivators aside from time schedules to move I had with new discoveries of material and feel free to speak what they are thinking and not be inhibited by what others are reflecting in their discussion forums
Indeed, John, and that can enrich the learning environment if and when teachers encourage the integration of the information researched using those tools rather than presetting content to the exclusion of all else. Teachers can sometimes be threatened with the autonomy that can now be attained by students using new tools. The challenge is for teachers to support the learning process. Good points...
I think the essential difference is that both teachers and students have continuous access to more information or insights from more people and with more tools to create a new, often unique, understanding in classes.