George Siemens has written one of those articles that sums up all the loose ends that have enveloped eLearning since the economy went into the toilet. His article A Learning Development Model For Today’s Students and Organizations, explains what has changed and how to handle it.
For example, what is needed in an organization for eLearning to thrive?
Siemens' new model calls for
The one thing I miss in George's methodology is feedback. This is probably because I am steeped in corporate, show-me-the-money training rather than academia, with its immeasurable objectives. Nonetheless, a system without a means of self-correction tends toward entropy.
Hi Jay...thanks for the post. I agree that feedback should be part of an elearning development model. The concept of "continual experimentation" (and in the process - evaluation and correction) needs to be stated explicitly.
To slightly abuse a term: praxis as a means of informing future decisions. In a classroom environment, evaluation impacts instruction. If students aren't "getting it", instruction is modified to accommodate. In a model for elearning development, the notion of praxis is central to future viability. Experience influences future behaviour.
I guess any model should be pliable...what works today will not work tomorrow. A model is successful long term if it has mechanisms built in (feedback as mention in your blog) that allow it to alter itself and respond to changing external circumstances.
Anyway, main point - I'll update my paper to include your insights.
Thanks...take care
George
Posted by: George Siemens at September 20, 2002 08:37 AM
