Experiential Work-Integrated Online Learning: Insights from an Established UK Higher Education Program
This article discusses the BA Learning, Technology and Research degree that is an online degree from Anglia Ruskin University. The program emphasizes the importance of connecting the learning to the workplace for all of the students. They want to make sure the information can be easily connected to current knowledge and used.
The program is based upon five basic concepts – personalizing learning, work-based learning, inquiry-led learning, exhibition, and online communities. They use these concepts to tie the information within each course to the learner’s specific environment. As a result the learning and information given and expected is personalized for each individual student.
The program has proven to be successful so far for the students. They are hoping that this model will give more examples of what can become of e-learning environments. Also, it has created more questions and some answers to previous questions about what can and cannot occur within an e-learning environment. They believe that this is just the beginning of what e-learning may develop and evolve into.
As one looks at the emphasis on K-12 education within the United States with the creation of NCLB we should all realize that we must make learning at all levels relevant to the learners. This is one of the key ideas that I gained from this article. We must make the learning applicable to the students. If the students do not see how the information will be used in their lives at this point in time, a majority of the students will not care about it.
If we are to make the learning applicable to the students we must personalize it and make it relate to their lives. By doing this they can see how all of this information will be used and can be vital to their lives. With more and more employers wanting their employees to come in ready to work and with little on the job training, we need to show students how the information they are learning will also be used on the job and how important it is to make the connections between school, work and real world knowledge. By doing this, as suggested in this article, we can help e-learning evolve into something that more students will be willing to experience and more employers will be willing to support.
Arnold, Lydia (2008). Experiential work-integrated online learning: Insights from an established UK higher education program. Innovate Online, 4 (3), Retrieved October 9, 2008, from http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=494