Unit 5 e-Brary Activity

Clarà and Barberà look at how connectivism, a popular theory behind many MOOCs, explains learning in online environments. Connectivism focuses on students learning by connecting with others and sharing knowledge online. The authors point out that while this approach works for networking and collaboration, it does not fully explain how people actually build and understand new ideas over time. They suggest that cultural psychology can better explain learning by considering students’ cultural backgrounds, motivation, and mental growth. To make MOOCs more effective, they recommend two teaching principles based on cultural psychology that help create learning experiences that are more personal and meaningful.

Reference

 Learning online: Massive open online courses (MOOCs), connectivism, and cultural psychology Learning online: Massive open online courses (MOOCs), connectivism, and cultural psychology. Distance Education, 34(1), 129-136. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2013.770428Mallon, M.N. (2013).

The paper “Experiential Learning: An Overview” explains the key ideas and benefits of learning through real-life experiences. It draws on the work of theorists like John Dewey, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky, who stressed that learning is shaped by experience, reflection, and social interaction. A major focus is David Kolb’s four-stage model, concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation, which gives a clear process for guiding learning. The paper also highlights how experiential learning helps students connect theory to real-world situations, stay engaged, and develop deeper understanding by actively applying what they learn.

Reference

Bartel, Emma. (2015) Experiential Learning An Overview. Institute for Teaching Learning Innovation. itali.uq.edu.au | itali@uq.edu.au