CoL and SDL (ICT perspective)

Perspectives on self-directed learning (SDL) and collaborative learning (CoL)

ICT Connection Video Explanations

1. Dr Cheah Horn Mun, Ministry of Education, Singapore (2010)

2. Prof David Hung, National Institute of Education, Singapore (2010)

3. Ms Holly Jobe, International Society for Technology in Education, USA (2010)

4. Ms Kim McMonagle, International Society for Technology in Education, USA (2010)

5. Dr Robert Kozma, Principal Consultant, Kozmalone Consulting, Emeritus Director and Principal Scientist, Center for Technology in Learning, SRI International, USA (2011)

The following extract is taken from: SDL and CoL from an ICT perspective

How does ICT support learning in the 21st century?

• To achieve success in the knowledge-based economy, it is important for a child to have 21st century competencies.

• Self-directed learning (SDL) and collaborative learning (CoL) are two important 21st century competencies.

• ICT can be effectively used to develop SDL and CoL in our children.

How can ICT facilitate SDL and CoL in the classroom?

• ICT enables students to share and bounce ideas off each other. Examples of ICT use include using blogs for comments, and chat rooms for discussions.

• ICT allows every student to participate and manage his/her own learning, no one can hide.

• Even shy students can get excited, start something in class and want to continue working on the collaborative tools after school.

• Many Web2.0 tools are free and they allow students to interact and collaborate on their work.

• For example, Webspirations supports students in their research, organisation and questioning skills; Google docs is effective in facilitating students' collaborative writing and research processes; Animoto stimulates students visually, and allows them to creatively synthesise and express their learning.

• ICT enables students to be active contributors to the pool of knowledge in the World Wide Web.

What is the teacher's role in using ICT to bring about SDL and CoL?

• The most important role of a teacher is to design inspiring lessons and challenging tasks to engage students.

• Tap on students' passion and they will be able to guide their own learning for the rest of their lives.

• Other teachers' roles are to be the supporter, the facilitator, the person who encourages students to develop themselves

• For learning in the 21st century, the teacher's role shifts towards student-directed learning.

• The teacher's role is to be the facilitator, to guide and support students in their learing processes, and not simply providing everything for them.

• Teachers should facilitate the learning process by defining the task and making relevant resources available to students. Thereafter, the teacher should monitor and provide advice to keep students on-task.

• If teachers can take part in and gain first-hand experience of the digital culture, it will increase their credibility and effectiveness when they guide students.

• Teachers should select the appropriate SDL and CoL elements to integrate into their lessons. Otherwise the teacher might be overwhelmed.

• Teachers can role model SDL by reflecting on their own teaching practices and making incremental adjustments on a daily basis.

• The ICT Connection (An example of Communities of Practice) provides a platform for teachers to contribute lesson packages to share with the teaching fraternity their own ideas about how SDL and CoL attributes can be developed in the students through the use of ICT.

Collaborative Learning Vs Cooperative Learning

• Collaborative Learning is NOT Cooperative Learning

• In Cooperative Learning, the Learning Task is divided amongst the learners who will each accomplish their parts, followed by the assembling of the parts into the whole

• In Collaborative Learning, learners cooperate in on-going efforts in meaning negotiation and the establishment of shared understanding amongst the learners.

Resources

• Institutions

  • ICT Connection MOE: CoL and SDL http://ictconnection.moe.edu.sg/cos/o.x?c=/ictconnection/pagetree&func=view&rid=744

  • Self Directed Learning with ICT: Theory, Practice and Assessment http://ictconnection.moe.edu.sg/ictconnection/slot/u200/mp3/monographs/self-directed%20learning%20with%20ict.pdf

  • http://selfdirectedlearning.com/teaching-self-directed-learning-tools.html

• Presentations

  • Dimensions of Meaningful Learning by Prof Ashley Tan http://www.slideshare.net/ashleytan/session03-ict-for-meaningful-learning-sdl-col

  • Designing a Lesson Plan http://prezi.com/d6c7aposv192/designing-a-lesson-plan-2/

  • Changing the Way We Teach Today by Michael Robinson http://www.slideshare.net/johnlim67/changing-the-way-we-teach-today

• Wikis

  • https://sites.google.com/site/onlinepdresourcepackage2012/21st-century-skills

  • https://sites.google.com/a/moe.edu.sg/enriching-learning-experience-through-sdl-col/home/maths/approaches

• Blogs

  • http://stephenchinlearning.blogspot.sg/2010/10/21st-century-competencies.html

  • http://weelookang.blogspot.sg/2011/06/school-leader-seminar-2011-nus-faculty.html

• Rubrics

  • Conceptual Rubrics for Teacher Competencies in CoL and SDL by Aldrin Tee - Based on MOE's MP3 Outcomes https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmMlxd1VkeqcdFI3VWR6alhQX29fU29KLUMzdVRqdnc&usp=docslist_api#gid=1

  • Self-Direction Rubrics for Students - CESA #1 21st Century Learning Program 2007 Based upon the work of MSD of Lawrence Township, Indiana.

  • www.cms4schools.com/mtsd/faculty/sampleteacher/Selfdirection_rubric.pdf