Designing for learning in higher education

Ron Oliver

• more learning - more people with access, better guided, better supported
• better learing - relevant, meaningful, engaged
• better learners - self-sufficient, independent, active, willing
• better teachers - facillitators, planners, guides

The lure of technology, e.g. iPad

Lots of tools and resources to come to grips with:

• lecture theatre
• tute rooms
• presentation systems
• course management systems
• Web
• video
• elibraries
• personal mobile devices
• etc

Rare to find an institution with a consistent approach to technology

pedagogical dimensions of CBE

• relevance in real world
• ill-defined and complex
• sustained investigation
• etc

Model to use:

• learning tasks
• engage learners
• context
• learning materials
• content
• information
• learning supports
• teachers
• peers

Good learning design means that students are not only accessing information but organising it and processing it!

Designing learner interactions
Reusable and sharable learning designs, e.g. LAMS. Open education.

VET sector - task-directed, task-guided, task-autonomous.

Has learning design - ldt.eworks.edu.au

ALTC - funding research that will be useful for more than the teacher

• research as a means to an end
• programs vs projects
• seeking traction and uptake
• dissemination

Teachers are too busy to spend time in their day to how to improve their teaching!

Take-home message

• learning is what learners do not what teachers do
• teachers must design for learning
• good learning designs must be shared
• how to encourage sharing?
• success is interest generated outside of club
• need for depth in research
• seek impact
• keep coming to ASCILITE
• use the networks

Good learning hurts!!!
Technology is a means to an end!