“Is There A Class With This Content?” Web CT and the Limits of Individualization

First, to acknowledge, we had two readings this week in Policy and Planning. The second reading was “Suggestions for Bottom-Up Design of Online Programs.” The second reading was informative, detailing how the University of Florida began implementation of a completely on line degree program. There was much trial and error before hitting on a completely successful on line Masters program. While the article provided insights into the decision making process of selecting an LMS, whether or not to use a third party vendor and how to administer a non-traditional program within a traditional education structure, I found the article “Is There A Class With This Content?” to be more engaging.

In the article “Is There A Class With This Content?” a couple of strands of thought came together for me.

Interactivity and Social Presence in eLearning

The author traces the origin of Computer Based Learning in the article. She does a great job of linking the beginnings of computer based training to Behaviorism. The idea that teaching happens in controlled environments where information is presented and a learner absorbs the presented information. Testing is feedback. Learning and related testing leads to a demonstrable competency on the part of the learner. This to me is fascinating. In part because I have been exposed to more social constructivist philosophies for most of my adult learning. The article puts the early beginnings of computer based instruction into a context wherein computer based training models were extolled as superior to models of learning where “live” teachers create “mass produced learning” designed for the median, not the individual. It was fascinating to reflect on how things have changed. Currently, best practices in computer based medium advocate creating a social presence, building learning communities in a new computer mediated environment. It was amazing for me to see how the perspectives have changed.

Tie in to Personal Learning Environments

As I’ve thought about our group’s presentation topic, Personal Learning Environments. I saw a continuum in my mind, on the one side of the continuum were Computer Based Training Models with control in the hands of the instructors/designers. In the middle of the continuum were LMS / CMS /LCMS systems offering instructor control over content and set up but student participation and discussion (social presence). With Personal Learning Environments control is outside of institutional / instructor control and in the hands of each individual learner. The learner has become self-directed. It is interesting to think about where this might go in the future….and an idea for a graphical illustration!