What is important in learning?

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First and foremost, motivation; the joy of discovery, the desire to get better, to develop ourselves and to improve the world around us.

Secondly, the ability and willingness to reflect. Including reflecting on the ‘why’, the ‘what’ and the ‘how’.

In my opinion people are constantly learning. We cannot not learn. The important difference is in what learning happens with a purpose and what learning is conscious learning and what we do with what we learn.

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What is the role of technology in learning and collaboration?

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Technology gives another dimension to living. It makes ‘time’ more tangible. Past events and experiences become easier to access and analyze. It also makes the present more observable, immense amount of data visual and easily comprehendible.

It enables people to create an environment that is very personal and customizable. It allows for risk free learning and testing (like learning to drive a car or a plane, or examining the human body, etc). In many cases it reduces costs of such learning too.

It gives individuals a chance to pursue a lifestyle that would be impossible without it (in the case of digital nomads, or geographically dispersed teams). Learning and knowledge will cease to be a privilege (like through MOOCs, etc). Access to information will cost less, hence involving more people in the creation of new knowledge.

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What have I learnt?

 

We have been overwhelmed by the amount of new information presented to us during this course. We covered three themes during the course a) ITC literacy, b) special themes and c) project oriented and emerging technologies.

 

I focus on a couple things I worked on that were, for a reason or another, the most meaningful. 

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• Microsoft Educator Community

• Micro:bit 

• Office 365

• SonicPi+screenrecording

• VirtualReality

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Let's look at them each in more detail.

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Microsoft Educator Community (MEC)

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I took part in a couple of MOOCs through EdX (Deep Learning through Transformative Pedagogy, Design and Development of Educational Technology, Implementation and Evaluation of Educational Technology, Designing and Leading Learning Systems and Design Thinking for Leading and Learning) before coming to start my studies at the uni, but haven't been involved with communities targeted mostly at teachers and other educators. I plan to go forward and complete more courses and earn some more badges or even get certified through MEC during the summer months.

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MEC is a community of learning and a community of practice. Communities of practice is a term introduced by Etienne Wenger and Jean Lave, referring to loosely or tightly knit groups of people who have a shared goal of developing themselves and their professional practices. Read more about communities of practice here or watch the video below.

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It has been tremendously beneficial to be part of such learning focused communities, not just for knowledge acquisition, but also from a motivational point of view. Reading about successes and failures, coping strategies, innovative ways of using technology in educational settings, getting involved with different technology enhanced projects or events are all facets of developing one's practice.

There are of course, hundreds of groups that one can join, through Facebook, or other platforms. I have been part of several groups that are based and deal with education (or the use of ICT in education, gamification in the classroom, etc) in Hungary. As for a future educational technologist, I am getting very valuable information from authentic professionals in authentic settings, which will help me identify problems or challenges, and design solutions to them.

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