Bill's Notebook

Elizabeth Corcoran gives a great argument in the ongoing debate about technology’s effect on our minds.  She makes an important point- “I keep wondering why we lump all “technology” into the same basket. By doing so, we ignore the most important distinction of all: whether we are sponges for absorbing other people’s ideas, or whether we’re making our own.“

She gives an example of how children learn more when they are given tools to create content rather than tools that just deliver content.  Now, she talks about technology in the classroom but this equally applies to technology in the workplace.  Think of the training that consists of delivering content (lecture, PowerPoint, brown bag talk, etc.) versus the training where people are encouraged to play with the new software program or tool.

I consider the basis of learning to be the creation of mental models.  You cannot just transmit your mental model completely to me; I have to create one unique to my own mind.  You can give me information to build the model and you can create experiences that will shape the mental model but the final product is still through my unique mental processes.  But every mental model starts with engagement.  Thus, this is why allowing people to make content rather than absorb content is the key to effective learning.

I know I said I wasn’t going to write any more about training in this blog but I had to pass this book recommendation along:  Evidence-Based Training Methods by Ruth Colvin Clark.

This article from Edu.Blogs reminds me of a presentation that I gave at a conference where I advocated using SimCity to teach introductory Public Administration.  Game based learning seems a natural way to have students quickly learn a number of complicated skills and in-depth knowledge.

I’ve always liked Roger Schank since I read his Tell Me a Story back in 1991.  In fact, he’s the impetus for my interest in mental models.  His insights in teaching and learning are well-grounded in his experiences in teaching college classes and his consulting work to many large companies.  That’s why his latest opinion on being realistic about the effects of technology on learning.  “Learning is learning and technology is technology. The two are related if and only if the technology makes it possible to learn something that can be learned in no other way.”

There are seemingly numerous applications for elearning and trying to craft an elearning system can be confusing.  Learning Conversations has a great guide for determining what applications to use.  I especially like the fact that the guide is aimed toward the learner and not driven by the technology.

But, I believe it only looks like a large number of applications.  Many of the applications are just variations of wikis, blogs, twitter, and FaceBook-type applications.  Where are the truly new applications that enhance the learning experience?  By focusing on the needs of the learners, I am sure that the new applications will arrive.