Learning Philosophy
“Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.”
There's not a teacher, trainer or educator past their first year in service who has not heard this well worn Chinese proverb.
So why is it then that our global education system has become so entrenched in 'tell'? Sure, there are some great teachers and trainers out there. But why is it that with such an immense capacity for learning, wonder and insight, we are subjected to an often inanimate individual speaking at around 150 words per minute for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 12 years? We call this education, and we know no better way. Or do we?
In the last 10 years, there has been a remarkable change in how we learn. We are in the midst of a fundamental revolution in how we find, absorb, share, utilise and retain information. eLearning has been largely marginalised and relegated to become a sort of carob of the chocolate world. For some, it cannot and will never replace face to face interactions. However with the advent of web 2.0 technologies, instructional designers, teachers and trainers are able to create truly lasting and memorable learning experiences, without the 'tell'.
Often, the subject of eLearning is met with derisory sniggers and dismissive gesturing, and perhaps there is good reason for that. The word 'interactive' is usually a euphemism for 'has buttons'. It is possible, however that the learner is not dictated to. It's possible to acknowledge the human being sitting in front of the screen. It's possible to create an interaction where there are no right or wrong answers in the assessment, and in which learners are free to roam PDF documents, relevant video interviews, podcasts, government websites and advisory services in order to prepare for a case study.
In short - it's possible to create transformative eLearning. It just takes a deeper connection to the learner.
There's not a teacher, trainer or educator past their first year in service who has not heard this well worn Chinese proverb.
So why is it then that our global education system has become so entrenched in 'tell'? Sure, there are some great teachers and trainers out there. But why is it that with such an immense capacity for learning, wonder and insight, we are subjected to an often inanimate individual speaking at around 150 words per minute for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 12 years? We call this education, and we know no better way. Or do we?
In the last 10 years, there has been a remarkable change in how we learn. We are in the midst of a fundamental revolution in how we find, absorb, share, utilise and retain information. eLearning has been largely marginalised and relegated to become a sort of carob of the chocolate world. For some, it cannot and will never replace face to face interactions. However with the advent of web 2.0 technologies, instructional designers, teachers and trainers are able to create truly lasting and memorable learning experiences, without the 'tell'.
Often, the subject of eLearning is met with derisory sniggers and dismissive gesturing, and perhaps there is good reason for that. The word 'interactive' is usually a euphemism for 'has buttons'. It is possible, however that the learner is not dictated to. It's possible to acknowledge the human being sitting in front of the screen. It's possible to create an interaction where there are no right or wrong answers in the assessment, and in which learners are free to roam PDF documents, relevant video interviews, podcasts, government websites and advisory services in order to prepare for a case study.
In short - it's possible to create transformative eLearning. It just takes a deeper connection to the learner.
