An open e-learning experiment.

 

There is no doubt that the internet has influenced the way I approach learning. Being able to join discussions, air my views and ideas, reflect on comments, follow up ‘leads’ suggested by others, publish and explore are all things I have been able to do over the last three years thanks to the internet. During one of my very first posts on LinkedIn I realised I was seeing the discussion and those adding to it as my virtual classroom and students. We must have all enjoyed the learning process for there were over 400 comments and I summed it all up in a ‘Prezi’ so we could share in the outcome. If you want the link let me know.

I have come to realise though that much of what I am doing is asking questions, presenting ideas or exploring those of others. I have used Tweets to bring resources to the attention of others and to sum up ideas in a pithy way. My website explores my philosophies in greater depth and is a window for the resources I am producing. Recently I started this blog too as a way of expressing ideas and hopefully getting people to think about the various aspects of teaching and learning, but do you ever get the feeling you are missing something? I am not sharing my learning journey. Could this be a worthwhile experiment – to open up and share my learning journey to others?

I have just begun another stage in my learning journey thanks to a reference to a book made by somebody during a discussion who I cannot remember so my thanks goes out rather unfocused! The book is about ‘self’ and if it exists at all. It is one of those books where you read a few lines and spend the rest of the evening reflecting and exploring, progress through the book is slow but the learning journey rapid.  So much to think about, find out and share. It was during one of these periods of reflecting that I realised the one thing I had not used the many internet resources for, that of sharing my learning journey. I wondered if I shared  my journey it would be the much richer for doing so. I would liken this to having a local guide when visiting somewhere new. You could read the guide books but local knowledge is so much more colourful, engaging and interesting.

So that is my intention, to use this blog to share my learning journey into ‘self’. I am aware I am a ‘toddler’ in this field and that my first steps will be a little shaky. I know that my insights may be way off the mark and very immature and that later I will realise this and even may be a little embarrassed by what I have said.  I hope there are those out there who have more knowledge or understanding than me at each stage I reach and that they will be gentle in their contribution, helping to guide me and even challenge me as I progress through this learning journey. I hope too that they will bring the colour and richness I could never hope to be exposed to by reading alone.

You can join me in a number of ways:

As a companion, somebody who also wished to make this journey and keep me company and share the experience of ‘open learning’.

As a guide, somebody who can point me in the right direction and keep me on course.

As a mentor, somebody who will challenge my thinking and provide the support to achieve my own insights and understanding.

As an observer, somebody who pops in now and then to see how things are progressing and maybe receives inspiration for their own learning journey.

 

So if you are reading this and are interested in joining me I would like you to register to follow this blog. If you know somebody who may also be interested please let them know and ask them to join us in some capacity too.

The first instalment will be published on Sunday 11th November. I hope you are able to join me in this e-learning journey and experiment in exploring ‘self’.

Kev

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