Recap for previous lecture

Learning designs or sequences of activities has migrated from using traditional tool.,s to that of a digital platform. Learners are now empowered to use web applications, unlike that of a linear approach with the use of traditional CD in the past, users are now able to have a more interactive and engaging platform which promotes feedback and content creation. New media has enabled "movement back & form" during a learning process.

The basic structure of learning involved tasks which learners are required to do. Many of these tasks make up activities. There are resources, or instruments and tools, which supports learners. There is also the presence of a support mechanism which promotes scaffolding. Students are being guided onto the right track. For E-learning, a point to note is whether there is less knowledge on progress, with the increased used of chatrooms and discussion forums. Is there a metric present to analyze and measure the effectiveness of these new media applications?

Tasks for a learning design can be assimilative, communicative, depending on the objective of the educators.

In (Oliver, et. al., 2004), the pedagogical approach represented by a octahedron which a few important components are being brought up. The components include

Individual - Social
Reflection - Non-reflection
Information - Experience

From Conole, G., it has been brought up that tools are being mapped to tasks.

Resources are being assigned to tasks. However, what kind of content should be present in a learning design? What forms/ techniques are most suitable for learning different content? The issue of blended learning was also brought up as one has to consider the fact that both on and offline platforms should be used. Alfred also challenges us to think what works and what doesn't...

Affordances are actional properties. The example given was that of a chair which affords moving as it's mounted on wheels. Alfred then moves on to web programs. He mentioned that there are applications and software which facilitates analysis and help slow the spread of SARS. For googleEarth, some functions are learning tools; some aren't. One important factor for educators is the ability to use these tools and functions before they are capable of using them as a teaching tool.

Support mechanisms are present to ensure channels of feedback where learners are able to go to educators when the need arises. It can also come in a form of tools such as a wiki, or resources such as an ebook.

In a video, it was mentioned that educational tv, program instructions, computer based learning, multimedia and other so-called "new" technologies at various stages of times have come and gone. The internet makes things easy to do, however, are they going to pass like previous technologies. The internet can be an effective instruction site, but are they just information dumps, how effective do they actually dessiminate instructions?

The effectiveness of the Internet has been questioned, does it violate principles for learning to take place? Instead of showing, is the Internet be merely used for telling information? Does it affords individuals in the process of practising what they have learnt? The motivation of using the Internet has been tagged with various false concepts such as the importance of games and animation present to stimulate learning. In fact, it can be used for learning and has the ability to demonstarate using real world problem tasks. Lastly, it is highlighted that the importance of learning by doing is indispensible.

So... does ideas revolves around tasks and activities... or does tasks and activities revolves around ideas? Some planetory representations were being presented in the powerpoint!

Copernican vs. Ptolemaic

Last but not least, we are to consider the problems involved in existing curriculum, to understand the various tasks being assigned to us during a learning process. Inputs of development results in output of design. New media and the learning through web has given users the abilit to start from various nodes, to jump from step to step but NOT eliminating the important steps to effective learning. The elements of design and development is not not limited only to the practitioner as it is in the past. Instructional design modules are revised with new media where users are now being empowered.

That's all folks... Till the next lecture...