Learning is Not an Instructional Method
Learning takes place within a learner it results in the change of the learners understanding and behavior. As toddlers we learn that fire is hot, and ice is cold. Those of us who watched A Christmas Story learned not to stick our tongue on a frozen flag pole. Though I am sure a few were inspired to try any way, they still learned the lesson. Learning takes place all the time as we engage with our environment and each other.
Recently I have been part of discussions surrounding ‘Online Learning’ some of these discussion take place at work, others among my PLN and a few more at Moodle Boot Camp. I have to say I do not like the term ‘Online Learning’ even less ‘eLearning’. An individual’s learning does not take place online, on a computer, in a library, or in a classroom for that matter. Learning takes place within the learner.The classroom, a learning management system, online resources, books, teachers and other learners are part of the learning environment but are not learning themselves.
I continually hear that online classes are not as rigorous or as valuable as a face to face class. I have sat in some pretty useless face to face classes in my day, the same can be said for an online class or two. The delivery method of content is not as important as the content and instruction that is developed and shared. A course should be evaluated on the content, instruction and supports for learning that are part of the class. The delivery method is just one more piece to be considered but should not be the single factor that determines its value and credibility.
Since learning is ultimately the responsibility of the learner, they should have a choice on what delivery and instructional methods works best for them. We continually talk about how we need to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners, yet we tend to limit it to face to face classes. We also tend to reserve online classes for credit recovery or at risk students. Is it because we believe that only these students can benefit from this delivery method? I believe that this method can be appropriate for all learners. Is it because we believe online courses have less of a strain on school resources? In K-12 learning there is still a teacher developing lessons, content, communicating and supporting students. What has changed is the timing and method of communication, not the time commitment and thoughtful development of learning materials. Some would argue that an online course may in fact have a greater time commitment as there is often more communication between teacher and students then in a traditional classroom.
I think we need to pay attention to the words we use and distinguish between learning environments (instructional methods) and actual learning, they are not the same.
14 thoughts on “Learning is Not an Instructional Method”
Hey Ms. Knittle, my name is Emily Kinney and I am responding to this as an assignment for my class, EDM310. You can find our class blog at edm310.blogspot.com. You can also find my blog at kinneyemilyedm310.blogspot.com and my twitter @Emily_Kinney. I will also summarize my visit to your blog in my own post on June 8th. Now let’s get started! I must say that I do agree with you, that the term “online learning” doesn’t make much sense. Online classes only give you the tools for teaching yourself. It is up to the student to use these tools given in order to “learn” anything. To me, online classes take a great deal of focus and commitment. Meeting deadlines can be tough for some students to accomplish on their own. They need to be in an actual classroom where the teacher is constantly reminding the student what is due and when it is due. I think it takes a responsible student to take an online class. You said, “I continually hear that online classes are not as rigorous or as valuable as a face to face class.” I think this depends on each individual student. For some students, online classes ARE more valuable. It all depends on what kind of learner the student is, some want the criteria to be shown to them– which would be better for the student to be in a classroom. Some want to show themselves– which would be better for an online class. To me online classes are very rigorous and they are very valuable to my education. I agree with your post and think that we should be more careful with the words we use when it comes to our learning environments.
Emily,
I think you hit the nail on the head “It all depends on what kind of learner the student is.” I find that some times educators expect the student to adapt to the teacher when it should be the other way around. I believe that more options we offer our students the more opportunities for success they have. We all do not learn the same way and at the same rate.
I have been focused a lot lately on how we use words in education – we toss them around as if we all agree on their meaning. Take for example grades and assessment. What are we grading? What do we access? Ask around the teachers room and you won’t get the same answer.
No need to elaborate any further, I think you’re spot on with how people perceive online learning. They see it as a strategy rather than the actual learning strategies that are employed while facilitating a class.
To be fair though, I think there are certain strategies that lend themselves better to traditional education settings. Yes, it depends on how the instruction is structured, but there are certain limitations with online that often allow people to dismiss it as not as effective. Personally for me, it’s the lack of physical presence that really bugs me about online learning, but then again that speaks to the need to provide a differentiated setting that meets the need of the learner.
We’re really stuck in this insideous notion that content delivery is education. It is NOT, as you so aptly assert in this blog entry. My belief is that learning is change — it is transformation. If there is no change in the LEARNER then there is no learning. Most of what I see around me is transactional — content is provided, student reads, watches, or listens to content (or not in many cases) and a grade is given. Transaction complete.
The insideous thing is that the teacher really believes that learning has occurred. After all, the teacher delivered fantastic content — s/he chose it, evaluated it, synthesized it, sequenced it, put it on PPt or YouTube or on the white board. S/he really used his or her mind and so assume the students will too. The problem is that too much teaching results in too little learning.
What if we completely transformed the way learners interact with the subject matter? What if they got to choose what they expose themselves to in order to meet the learning objectives? What if they got to evaluate what the best resources are and share them with others? What if the students got to synthesize the information for themselves? What if they got to sequence their learning in ways that make sense to them? What if they got to share their learning with others in reflections, assignments, projects, and presentations?
None of this happens with content delivery. So why are we spending so much money and time on something that doesn’t work?
Ben,
I agree not all learning strategies work for everyone. There is an older man on my street who always tells me he was “not much for book learning” but was a terrific mechanic in his day. The hands-on, get dirty approach was more his style. I think as educators we need to provide a variety of learning strategies, methods and access options for the learners we support.
A very thoughtful response Chris, thank you.
Why do we spend so much time and money on content delivery – it is familiar, it has less risk, and we have control. To transform learning as you suggests means we must trust the learner. In this day an age of accountability many teachers are afraid of failure, if students do not ‘perform’ well then the teachers are accountable. It is hard to relinquish this to the learner. If we remind our selves where learning takes place – with in a learner, we might realize the majority of learning is the responsibility of the learner.
I agree. you hit it on the nose. Teacher need to adapt to the students not the other way around. I really enjoying reading your blogs.It is a great insight to what I have to look forward to as future teacher.
Hi Beth! I’m a Beth too! Anyways, I think online education coloradotech.edu can benefit a lot of people, and I agree with you when you say it has the capacity to reach more than just “risk students.” Online courses can be time consuming, require a level of commit as well as provide special benefits like learning from home or special individualized attention. Bottom-line, the learner has the capacity to make the opportunity worthwhile and a manageable fit to their lifestyle, if they wish.
I was struck by your comment that learning does not take place on line and that there was no such thing as elearning. I agree with your sentiments. We should never lose track of the fact that the self discipline of the mind is where the learning takes place. I think that technology can be a tool for our brains to use very effectively, but it can never be a replacement for a well disciplined mind. I think technology should be used to offer many more options to our students. It should be used to offer some unique stimulation for our students. It should be used to taylor knowledge to their learning style. But we must never lose sight of the fact that technology is only a tool which we use to help our minds do the real work.
Beth,
I love the way you have explained this. As an educator of adult learners, each year I find myself teaching a more diverse group of individuals. I have found over the years that I have really had to change my classroom in order to reach each student. I teach an allied health program where my students need to pass a certification exam at the end of one year. If they have not connected to the information during the year, they will not pass. Plus I work extremely hard on teaching critical thinking skills and problem solving skills. For some students these come easy, for others I work all year on trying to capture these skills with them.
Thanks for sharing.
Kathy
Phillip,
” A self-discipline of the mind is where learning takes place.” A learner needs to be disciplined whenever and wherever learning takes place. In the face to face classroom a learner must be attentive, inquisitive and active; this is true in an online setting as well. A learner must interact with the material, advocate for their needs, and be reflective of their progress.
Kathy,
I too mostly support adult learners and a large focus of what I do it encouraging critical thinking, questioning and research skills. It seems as we settle down into our work routines these skills go by the wayside. Maybe it is because they are not encouraged in many workplaces or no longer needed. I believe the expression “use it or lose it’ applies here. What once strong skills may have become rusty. I prefer to think if it that way then to think they never had the skills before.
I agree with what you said, education had come a far way. I too have sat in some pretty useless fact to face classes my self, I even ask my self why did i waist my time to come all this way just to sit and listen to this person talk senseless issues. I too have also sat in online classes as well, what i can say for the online classes is that the work load seem much more than face to face classes. In a fact to face class you do not have to be participating in so much discussions and a major assignment every week, sometimes a test. So the work load is finitely more than face to face classes.
what i like with the online classes is that it is very convenient, you can be single mother, pregnant and even at work and be in a classroom at the same time. I never thought learning would come to this so efficient, convenient and available to all no matter where you are in the world your age or anything like that.
I finished my first degree two days before I gave birth to my third child and is presently doing my masters with a ten months old baby and two other children. Can you imagine how hard and inconvenient it would be for me to attend classes if online education was not available.
Hello. I am in an online learning class. I agree that learning takes place within the learner, it does not matter the environment. Online classes are a wonderful thing for some students. I feel it truly depends on the learner. I have found these classes convenient as well as up on current teaching issues. However, if the learner is not a self-starter then these classes are fairly useless because the material will not be used. Some students must have the regular schedule and “classroom” experience. I do not believe I would have been able to finish my Master’s or work on my Doctorate without the convenience of these online classes.