ESTABLISHING A COMMONWEALTH CENTRE FOR

CONNECTED LEARNING

A case study in the wealth of networks

Dr Alex Grech

PCF8 Kuala Lumpur

30 November 2016

DISCONNECT

EDUCATION

SYSTEMS

20th CENTURY CURRICULA & 20TH CENTURY CLASSROOMS

FOR 21ST CENTURY LEARNERS

ONE SIZE FITS ALL RULES OK

57% OF TEACHERS IN EU WANT ICT TRAINING

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS?

NEW SKILLS?

Kampylis, P., Punie, Y. & Devine, J. (2015); Promoting Effective Digital-Age Learning - A European Framework for Digitally-Competent Educational Organisations, European Commission

COMPETENCES

1. INFORMATION AND DATA LITERACY

• 1.1 Browsing, searching and filtering data, information and digital content

• 1.2 Evaluating data, information and digital content

• 1.3 Managing data, information and digital content

2. COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

• 2.1 Interacting through digital technologies

• 2.2 Sharing through digital technologies

• 2.3 Engaging in citizenship through digital technologies

• 2.4 Collaborating through digital technologies

• 2.5 Netiquette

• 2.6 Managing digital identity

3. DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION

• 3.1 Developing digital content

• 3.2 Integrating and re-elaborating digital content

• 3.3 Copyright and licences

• 3.4 Programming

4. SAFETY

• 4.1 Protecting devices

• 4.2 Protecting personal data and privacy

• 4.3 Protecting health and well-being

• 4.4 Protecting the environment

5. PROBLEM SOLVING

• 5.1 Solving technical problems

• 5.2 Identifying needs and technological responses

• 5.3 Creatively using digital technologies

• 5.4 Identifying digital competence gaps DigComp 2.0 - The Conceptual Reference Model

COMPETENCE AREAS COMPETENCES

Source: World Economic Forum, New Vision for Education: Unlocking the Potential of Technology (2015)

SKILLS THAT MAKE PEOPLE

CRITICAL THINKERS

PROBLEM SOLVERS

COMMUNICATORS

COLLABORATORS

INFORMATION-LITERATE

TECHNOLOGY-LITERATE

FLEXIBLE

ADAPTABLE

INNOVATIVE

CREATIVE

GLOBALLY COMPETENT

FINANCIALLY LITERATE

ASSESSMENTS

FOR 21ST

CENTURY

SKILLS?

DISRUPTIVE

TECHNOLOGY

ALL MEDIA IS NOW SOCIAL

“Algorithms such as the one that powers Facebook’s news feed are designed to give us more of what they think we

want – which means that the version of the world we encounter every day in our own personal stream has been

invisibly curated to reinforce our pre-existing beliefs”.

“Google’s personalised search function means no two people’s Google searches are the same. We are less likely

to be exposed to information that challenges us or broadens our worldview, and less likely to encounter facts that disprove false information that others have shared.”

OUR INTERNET

OUR ECHO-CHAMBER?

Education systems should contribute to the development of 21st century skills, including digital literacy, and increasingly

data literacy.

Yet algorithms in education tend to be designed by people with strong data and technical skills but a narrow perspective of equity.

OPEN

EDUCATION

JRC IPTS (2016): Opening up Education: A Support Framework for Higher Education Institutions

OERMake all publicly funded education resources

OPEN?

COPYRIGHT

ISLAND LAB

LEGACY OF INVESTMENT

IN TECHNOLOGY

E-GOVERNMENT

SIZE

TOPOGRAPHY

LANGUAGES & CULTURAL

DIVERSITY

STRATEGIC GEO-

POLITICAL LOCATION

PROXIMITY OF DECISION-

MAKERS TO EMERGING

MARKETS

BRIDGE BETWEEN

COMMONWEALTH & EU

CONNECTED LEARNING AS IDEOLOGY

Lever on the potential of technology and make education more

relevant and inclusive to young people through PRAXIS,

contributing to the development of essential, inclusive

21st century skills in the process

INTEREST-

POWERED

Learning that is social,

participatory,

interest-driven and

relevant to the

opportunities of our time.

OPENLY-

NETWORKED

PRODUCTION

CENTRED

ACADEMCIALLY

ORIENTED

PEER-SUPPORTED

SHARED

PURPOSES

Increase quality and

RELEVANCE of digital learning

Increase IMPACT of educators

Address inequalities and social

integration in society through

ACCESSIBLE and cost-effective

education

Support and disseminate

applied research and

BEST PRACTICES

in tech-enabled and connected learning

HIGH-LEVEL OBJECTIVES

31 2 4

POLICY AND

INVESTMENT

IN

TECHNOLOGY

SHIFT THE

DISCOURSE &

FOCUS ON

TECHNOLOGY IN

EDUCATION

PILOTS

LEARNER-

CENTRIC

SOLUTIONS

Pathways for Activation & Management

of High-Profile Pilots

Peer-Learning

Networks

Connected Learning Principles

Openness in

Education

3

1

2

INSTITUTIONAL

& OER LEADERS

LEGISLATORS &

POLICY MAKERS

LEGACY

EDUCATION

COMPANIES

FOUNDATIONS &

ASSOCIATIONS

EDUCATIONAL

RESEARCHERSTARGET PARTNERS & STAKEHOLDERS

CHANGE AGENTS

CHALLENGES

LIGHTWEIGHT

ACCREDITATION SYSTEM

FOR ONLINE LEARNING

LINK EQF TO TQF

BLOCKCHAIN FOR

EDUCATION

ACCREDITATION

MOOKIT PLATFORM FOR

ITS IN MALTA

PRAGMATIC USE OF

ANALYTICS TO

OVERCOME PERCEPTIONS

TEACHER CERTIFICATION

IN ICT & DIGITAL

LITERACIES

MONITOR TABLETS

PROJECT FOR K-11s

STARTS IN EARNEST 2017!

DIGITAL LITERACIES IN

CURRICULA

LINK NATIONAL SKILLS

COUNCILS TO TECH

Operate as a VIRTUAL KNOWLEDGE HUB for a

GLOBAL NETWORK of groups, agencies, institutions,

educators and activists interested in the rapid deployment of

PILOTS for connected learning in the Commonwealth & the EU

Dr Alex Grech

@alexgrech