What is a Digital Learning Environment?
To meet a rapidly changing digital landscape, the traditional learning environment model is being adapted in a variety of ways to provide digital learning experiences fostering problem-solving, conceptual development and critical thinking through authentic instruction (Kemker, 2005, p. 2; Ribble & Park, 2020) as such transforming classroom experiences in a powerful way (Couros, n.d.).
Described as an “environment or ecosystem — a dynamic, interconnected, ever-evolving community of learners, instructors, tools, and content” (Feldstein, 2017) a DLE recognises the tools, skills, standards, attitudes and habits of learning alongside the use of technology and access of digital resources (Lindsay, 2014) to develop academic and 21st century skills (Kemker, 2005, p. 2).
Whilst the opportunities and impact of digital technologies enhance learning and teaching, improve educational outcomes and build digital skills (Scottish Government, 2016, pp. 8-12) designing a DLE is more than just integrating digital tools, platforms and mobile technologies alone. Rather, the delivery of digital learning opportunities is shaped by a combination of physical spaces, online spaces as well as the tone or atmosphere (Lindsay & Davis, 2012, p. 168).
Discussing the design of a DLE, McIntosch (2020) employed the concept of seven spaces of learning, reflecting on the physical spaces, online spaces and different behaviours observed within the school learning environment. Awareness of these seven spaces when planning effective learning spaces establishes choice for the educators and learners (Lindsay & Davis, 2012, p. 173).
image 1
Inspired by Kemker’s (2005, p. 2) discussion of ‘outlier’ pedagogy, that is the learning extending beyond the physical four walls of the teaching space, Bergmann and Sams (2012, p. 20) suggest flipping the classroom and the learning. Teachers encourage students to use technology to access content at home and use the classroom space to support the assimilation of knowledge, thus allowing necessary 21st Century skills instruction. Wheeler (2015) suggests taking this further suggesting flipping the roles of teacher and student, utilising the ‘Performance Space’ to present their deep learning.
The Next Generation Digital Learning Environment (NGDLE) proposed by Brown et al (2015) has a higher education focus but suggests a forward thinking and robust framework that has universal application. The five core aspects of this all-in-one digital learning platform provide important factors to direct DLE design.
video 1
Veletsianos (2016, p. 243 ) argued that learning opportunities are created as a result of interactions or relationships within “organizational structures” that exist in DLEs. This is furthered by An & Reigeluth (2011, as cited in Lindsay, 2017, p. 29) who suggest that by building personalised and learner-centred communities, social networks and collegial groups, new teaching methods and tools will be able to provide pathways to connection. Wheeler (2013) theorizes that a future learning environment is a combination of professional, powerful and personal learning spaces to assist digital learning intentions. Personalising the learning space fosters robust, effective and deep experiences delivering choice for the learners through personalised selecting, creating and sharing practices.
image 2
What does this look like in the classroom? Compare both Heick’s (2020) suggestion of eight key elements of the Digital classroom and the online classroom framework proposed by Lindsay & Davis’s (2012, p. 174) which is both student-centred and provides a choice rich environment:
image 3
image 4
The concept of a DLE is a complex one determined by a number of factors such as student and educator PLNs and PLEs.
video 2
video 3
A DLE can exist as a professional and personal construct where digital choices made and workflow can look very different. Digital fluency allows navigation between different sets of technologies and utilising communication and technological skills to adapt effectively. This 21st Century competency combines technical proficiency, digital literacy and social competence relating to the issues of responsibility, equity and access (Spencer, 2020).
image 5
Before you leave this component reflect on your reading and add your thoughts to this padlet:
Click on the image for further readings and resources on this topic or go to the ‘Resources’ section of this web guide and select the ‘Digital Learning Environment’ tile.