Week 2Week 2

FundamentalsFundamentalsof learningof learning

& education’s& education’s original sin original sin

2

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

We are in motion on making sample available, setting up sections, finalizing the reading package after Smart Schools, etc.

General questions about course, projects, etc., after class

Smart Schools available from Marcia Brownlee, Longfellow 207

Handouts and PowerPoints on the course Website

3

ReviewReview

A feel for the course spirit, the tame and the wild

A passion for asking questions about creating learning in the curious Pandora spirit

An awareness of good questions to ask toward creating learning

An awareness of the Pandora Questions as useful top-level questions toward creating learning

4

Learning goalsLearning goals

Seeing how the Pandora questions help to organize ideas about creating learning

Thinking of learning as a matter of always getting better at something

Some skill in looking at learning through the lens of Theory One

A feel for creating learning guided by the Pandora questions and Theory One

5

PreviewPreview

1. Adding to PandoraIn which we consolidate ideas from Smart Schools using the Pandora Questions

2. Education’s original sinIn which we look at all good learning as getting better at doing something of some scope and richness.

3. Ulysses on paperIn which we look at a learning experience through ‘getting better at…’ and Theory One.

4. Ulysses by hypermedia Quick Design: Creating learning around a multimedia resource through Theory One and the Pandora questions.

5. Taking stock and looking ahead

6

Adding to Adding to PandoraPandora

Goal: Consolidate ideas Goal: Consolidate ideas from Smart Schools using from Smart Schools using the Pandora Questionsthe Pandora Questions

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1. What’s worth learning?What topics are worth learning?

What inside a topic is worth learning?

2. What’s hard about learning that?

3. So how is it best learned?What’s the source’s share? / What’s the learner’s share

4. How is the learning going?

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Education’s Education’s original sinoriginal sin

Goal: Think of learning as Goal: Think of learning as getting better at something getting better at something of some scope and of some scope and richnessrichness

The The original original original original

sinsin

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Education’s original sin…Education’s original sin…

Aboutitis Getting better at…

Tame Wild

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All learning is learning to doAll learning is learning to do

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Play the whole game!Play the whole game!

Getting better at something of scope and richness…

And more engaged by it…

And more alert to opportunities for it.

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Aboutitis

Knowledge base

Field of action

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Knowledge base

Field of action

Playing a better

richer game

Theory OneTheory One A design tool for getting better at whatever game A design tool for getting better at whatever game

Theory one

1. Clear information

2. Thoughtful practice

3. Informative feedback

4. Intrinsic or extrinsic motivation

How is it best

learned?

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Back to PandoraBack to Pandora

1. What’s worth learning? What topics are worth learning? What inside a topic is worth learning? Beyond knowing stuff, what games are learners getting

better at? (Avoid ‘aboutitis’!)

2. What’s hard about learning that? Where should we watch out for fragile knowledge:

missing, inert, naïve, ritual

3. So how is it best learned? What’s the source’s share? / What’s the learner’s share Can we keep all four sides of Theory One in play? –

clear information, thoughtful practice, informative feedback, strong intrinsic or extrinsic motivation.

4. How is the learning going? Can we arrange for truly informative feedback (from

Theory one)?

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Ulysses Ulysses on Paperon Paper

An example with An example with not much ‘aboutitis’not much ‘aboutitis’

Goal: See how Theory Goal: See how Theory One applies to a simple One applies to a simple but active learning but active learning experienceexperience

A simple design toolA simple design tool

Theory OneTheory One

Strong intrinsic or extrinsic motivation

Getting better at X amply rewarded, either because it’s interesting and engaging or because X feeds into other achievements that concern the learner.

Informative feedback

Clear feedback in support of getting better at X via teacher, peers, the situation itself, etc.

Thoughtful practice

Plenty of opportunity for learners to engage reflectively in X.

Clear information

E.g. Pertinent knowledge, clear explanation, modeling the activity well, etc. in support of X.The

game learners are

getting better at

X

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Ulysses by Ulysses by hypermediahypermedia

An example with An example with risks of aboutitisrisks of aboutitis

Goal: Through ‘Quick Goal: Through ‘Quick Design’ and bearing Design’ and bearing Theory One in mind, solve Theory One in mind, solve a problem of aboutitisa problem of aboutitis

A simple design toolA simple design tool

Theory OneTheory One

Strong intrinsic or extrinsic motivation

Getting better at X amply rewarded, either because it’s interesting and engaging or because X feeds into other achievements that concern the learner.

Informative feedback

Clear feedback in support of getting better at X via teacher, peers, the situation itself, etc.

Thoughtful practice

Plenty of opportunity for learners to engage reflectively in X.

Clear information

E.g. Pertinent knowledge, clear explanation, modeling the activity well, etc. in support of X.The

game learners are

getting better at

X

22

Rapid review and Rapid review and looking aheadlooking ahead

Goal: Consolidation and Goal: Consolidation and mental preparationmental preparation

23

Learning goalsLearning goals

Seeing how the Pandora questions help to organize ideas about creating learning

Thinking of learning as a matter of always getting better at something

Some skill in looking at learning through the lens of Theory One

A feel for creating learning guided by the Pandora questions and Theory One

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1. How do your learning experiences out there in the course of the week stack up from the standpoint of getting better at something and Theory One?

2. Continue to read the reading assignments with the Pandora Questions in mind

Where is Where is your your

learning learning Eden?Eden?