It seems that after a decade or more of what seems like non-stop innovations and technology tools, in the past four to five years there has not been much new. Although many of the old topics like mastery-based, competency-based, micro-credentials, adaptive learning, and others keep being revisited, along with discussions about AI and privacy, reports […]
Author: rxs57
Research Topics and Conversations – 2019
As we enter the new year it is a good time to explore topics that are new or continue to be important to distance education and adult learners. Many are topics that have been discussed for a number of years, but remain as relevant and important today as in the past. The following is a […]
What do we mean by Learning?
While much has been written about the process of learning, cultural aspects of learning, and other elements that can impact learning, what do we really mean by learning? Is it the demonstration of a changed behavior in regard to a cognitive-behaviorist approach to learning, or is it some sort of manifestation of a change in […]
A new year, a new research agenda, a renewed excitement
As we enter a new academic year it is a good time to look back at past research trends and forward to new research agendas for distance education and online learning. Many of our big questions remain that we will continue to debate and explore associated with deep learning, cognitive load, and online pedagogy. As […]
Pedagogy vs Andragogy: The Validity of Terms
So, when you hear the term pedagogy what comes to mind? Is it a teacher lecturing, is it the use of an overhead projector or PowerPoint, or is it something relegated to the online world? Further, is it even a term that still has relevance today? Pedagogy by definition is a very instructor centered term […]
The Year in Review
Over the past year the GA Fellows have touched on a number of topics that either currently impact or will impact online learning at a distance. From explorations of incidental learning and formal learning, collaboration vs. cooperation, emotions, and the examination of cognitive load theory, these topics highlight a rich research agenda for those […]
Transactional Distance Revisited
It is interesting how certain misperceptions around educational theories and constructs often persist and propagate in education. This was highlighted again this week when I was reading an article by a group of educational psychology researchers (Dispelling the Myth: Training in Education or Neuroscience Decreases but Does Not Eliminate Beliefs in Neuromyths). In this article […]
Intellectually Lazy?
I admit, I’m a little old school. I still like going outside to be with nature. I like cycling, skiing, sailing and hiking. I like listening to the sounds around me and to nature. In essence I like to be disconnect. Even when teaching for an adaptive ski program I tried to stay disconnected technologically. […]
Summary of First Posts
Before the GA Fellows start their next round of Blog posts I thought I would briefly summarize and tie their work together in this post. Beyond the tool of the day that seems to draw the attention of the popular press there are a host of interesting topics to explore in relation to how we […]