Preface
From Emerging Technologies for Learning
Over the last decade, in seminars, conferences, and workshops, Peter Tittenberger and I have had the opportunity to explore the role of technology in transforming learning.
From conversations during these engagements, a set of concerns has emerged:
- Educators express interest in improving their teaching and learning practices, particularly emphasizing the need to improve engagement of learners (online or in-class).
- While concerned about improving teaching and learning, educators generally resist:
- Advanced pedagogical discussions that are not readily transferable to the online or face-to-face classroom
- Technology-heavy hype and suggestions that the social element of learning can somehow be replaced.
This Handbook of Emerging Technologies for Learning (HETL) has been designed as a resource for educators planning to incorporate technologies in their teaching and learning activities.
HETL has been developed for a workshop delivered to Athabasca University faculty and reflects several years work with Peter at the Learning Technologies Centre at University of Manitoba.
Distance and online universities such as Athabasca, are well positioned to play a bridging role between tradition and emergence in transforming higher education. Universities that recognize the value of online learning and are able to "get the model right"[1] will be well positioned to respond creatively to developing change pressures.
To extend the dialogue on the concepts expressed in this book, and to ensure information is current, this wiki has been set up to solicit feedback, contributions, reactions, and present updates.
This workbook also supports and leads into the Certificate in Emerging Technologies for Learning offered by University of Manitoba’s Learning Technologies Centre and Extended Education.
George Siemens
March, 2009
University of Manitoba
References
- ↑ Annand, D. (2007) Re-organizing universities for the information age. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 8(3) Retrieved January 10, 2008, from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/372/952
