Flexible Learning and Digital Learning Environments
The article by Todhunter and the video from Research Shorts on the ‘Digital Learning Environment’ use the context of the university sector.
- How does the information shared in these relate to your sector of education?
- What will be your definition of flexible learning in a DLE?
The last module focused on flexible learning and digital learning environments and we needed to address the questions above in a blog post.
Todhunter’s article defined several learning environments and what the use of these words means in terms of how learning takes place:
- On campus/face-to-face
- Off campus/distance education/learning at a distance
- E-learning/computer-based learning
- Online/networked learning/distributed learning/web-based learning
- Blended learning/block intensive/hybrid
- Flexible learning
- Open learning
In thinking about the secondary school context, distance education is being utilised by some students in my school for study of the subjects that cannot be offered face to face due to low numbers. I know this can be challenging for some of the them because it requires discipline to keep on top of the work as well as being proactive in asking for help. The isolation can prove challenging for some. As per Todhunter’s definition the use of technology in e-learning and computer-based learning situations definitely occurs in my school. The “activities that take place in a digital learning environment on stand-alone devices” is happening in individual classrooms within the school in various ways but there isn’t always cross-KLA discussion and collaboration surrounding this. The other suggested modes do not seem as apparent in my context.
My definition of flexible learning would be: adapting the organisation, structure and design of the teaching and learning pedagogy as well as the delivery of resources (guided vs. unguided) to meet the needs of the students in the class both in the digital and physical setting. These could include structured online learning platforms like Moodle or Blackboard or less formal such as Facebook or YouTube.
