I found Tristian’s post about online learning OER’s and MOCC’s interesting, as there is a current debate within the Province of Ontario Canada about eLearning course. The newly elected Premier of Ontario is mandating high school students take 4 e-learning courses within the 30 credits required for a high school diploma starting in 2020. The teacher’s unions are not happy as they anticipate that teaching jobs will be negatively affected by this change. They are also concerned about students learning needs not being met through the online platform.
The learning I have gained so far through this course has lead to me to believe that students do enhance their digital literacy skills and satisfy their social learning needs through eLearning courses. Digital literacy skills foster 21st-century skills such as enquiry led and self-directed learners, collaborative in knowledge construction, multitasking and problem-solving. Connectivism is a learning theory that supports students engaging in social media platforms to connect, share and build on existing knowledge. However, without adequate digital literacy skills, connectivism is hampered. The following video discusses the value and importance of social learning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8ddCEamXR4
Within the province of Ontario, the Ministry of Education has licenced a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for every school board in Ontario. However, through the readings in Module 3, it seems as though there is a shift from a VLE to a Personal Learning Environment (PLE). Ebner et. al (2011) refers to personal learning environments as mashups. PLE’s blend multiple platforms, merge content and can be tailored to each individual learner. The following video demonstrates how the Province of Ontario has developed the VLE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CFoi3oJDDE&list=PL0VqgoAGj7URSmR3Z01mHlcvBJOGZxGut
My questions about online learning environments are how do they keep student centred learning the priority? I see the connection to online learning through MOOC’s and OER’s with metaliterate learning. O’Brien et. al (2017 ) describes that metaliterate learning is the centre of the following skills: participant, communicator, author, teacher, collaborator, producer, publisher, translator and researcher. These skills support a metaliterate learner and these skills are required for learning online through MOOC’s and OER’s. However, how is the course structured to ensure students are at the centre of the learning?
MOOC’s and OER’s require digital literacy skills to access the course material. How do learners acquire these skills if they have limited access to formal education? The purpose of MOOC’s are to open access to higher education, but when learners are beginning what scaffolding is required to enable learners to acquire the necessary literacy skills to access the course content?
I understand digital literacy and information literacy to be interchangeable terms, Horton (2008) describes information literacy as being self-motivated and self-directed. In O’Connell’s (2012) article she includes an image that how multiple literacies support successful learning. Without these literacy skills students won’t be able to navigate the online learning environment and through the online learning environment through MOOC’s and OER’s students will hone their literacy skills.
References
O’Connell, J. (2012). So you think they can learn? Scan, Vol 31. May, 5-11.
O’Brien, K. L., Forte, M., Mackey, T. P., & Jacobson, T. E. (2017). Metaliteracy as Pedagogical Framework for Learner-Centered Design in Three MOOC Platforms: Connectivist, Coursera and Canvas. Open Praxis, 9(3), 267-286.
Horton, F. W. (2008). UNESCO Guide Understanding Information Literacy: a Primer. Retrived from: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/resources/publications-and-communication-materials/publications/full-list/understanding-information-literacy-a-primer/
Ebner, M., Schon, S., Taraghi, B., Drachsler, H., Tsang, P., (2011). First steps towards an integrated Personal Learning Environment at the university level. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martin_Ebner2/publication/227100294_First_Steps_towards_an_Integrated_Personal_Learning_Environment_at_the_University_Level/links/0c96052f9ea8948b82000000/First-Steps-towards-an-Integrated-Personal-Learning-Environment-at-the-University-Level.pdf