Comments on: Why the right software is important http://www.stephenp.net/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/ A specialist in inquiry-based, work-focussed, online supported learning Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:33:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Stephen Powell http://www.stephenp.net/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-337 Stephen Powell Fri, 18 Feb 2005 08:30:25 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-337 Hi Rick, yes Teaching and Learning Online. This is the Amazon link. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0749435119/qid%3D1108690056/026-3559335-4241230 Hi Rick, yes Teaching and Learning Online. This is the Amazon link. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0749435119/qid%3D1108690056/026-3559335-4241230

]]> By: Rick http://www.stephenp.net/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-336 Rick Tue, 15 Feb 2005 10:33:48 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-336 Very interesting. I'm always looking for ways to describe what I think in graphic terms and rarely succeed; this is a big help. You mention Stephenson (2001). Do you have a full reference for that? Very interesting. I’m always looking for ways to describe what I think in graphic terms and rarely succeed; this is a big help.
You mention Stephenson (2001). Do you have a full reference for that?

]]> By: Stephen Powell http://www.stephenp.net/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-335 Stephen Powell Wed, 09 Feb 2005 19:33:38 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-335 Hi Glen, yes that would be interesting, thanks. Hi Glen, yes that would be interesting, thanks.

]]> By: Glen http://www.stephenp.net/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-334 Glen Wed, 09 Feb 2005 06:52:04 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-334 Hi Stephen You might be interested in an e-teaching qualification that is <a href="http://www.interactlms.org/blogs/post/1/65" rel="nofollow">being developed</a> in chch that is making a real effort to move to some of the paradigms that you are talking about. I will email you with some more details about it. regards Glen Hi Stephen

You might be interested in an e-teaching qualification that is being developed in chch that is making a real effort to move to some of the paradigms that you are talking about. I will email you with some more details about it.

regards
Glen

]]> By: Stephen Powell http://www.stephenp.net/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-333 Stephen Powell Sun, 06 Feb 2005 16:28:26 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-333 Oops, yes fixed now! Yes I prefer the rainforest, but not sure the metaphor works. Low alignment (after Stephenson) refers to the fact that the student might be expecting to work in a self-directed way, however the teacher/tutor is expecting to work in a more traditional and teachers led way. So each others expectations are misaligned. The question you ask is interesting. If I as a student sign up for a directed experience, then perhaps that is what I should get. If I sign up for a self-directed experience then that is what I should get. So I suppose for me it is important to sort this out at the start with a clear understanding about what is on offer and how each party expects to proceed. However, from a personal point of view, I would’ want to be involved in something that had a teacher led approach with little expectations that the students would be self-directed and take responsibility and control for their own learning. Oops, yes fixed now! Yes I prefer the rainforest, but not sure the metaphor works.

Low alignment (after Stephenson) refers to the fact that the student might be expecting to work in a self-directed way, however the teacher/tutor is expecting to work in a more traditional and teachers led way. So each others expectations are misaligned.

The question you ask is interesting. If I as a student sign up for a directed experience, then perhaps that is what I should get. If I sign up for a self-directed experience then that is what I should get. So I suppose for me it is important to sort this out at the start with a clear understanding about what is on offer and how each party expects to proceed.

However, from a personal point of view, I would’ want to be involved in something that had a teacher led approach with little expectations that the students would be self-directed and take responsibility and control for their own learning.

]]> By: Vix http://www.stephenp.net/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-332 Vix Sun, 06 Feb 2005 06:58:08 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-332 Hello! I'm not entirely sure here, but it looks to me as if you have just posted the same diagram twice. Did you change it? I totally agree that the right software is important, but the facilitation of that software can make a huge differenc. The right software won't help if the faciitation is inappropriate. I take it from your diagram (and subsequent reply to Jonny) that you'd rather be in the rainforest? When you talk about Low Alignment Expectations, do you mean that the student is not expecting much? But when you talk about High Alignment Expectations you mean that the student expect high things from the facilitator and their learning experience? If so, would that student, if the right facitliator managed to re-engage them, potentially shift down to the right and need to be in the rainforest? Would they then be right to expect a change in facitiatative style? Or would they drown? Hello!
I’m not entirely sure here, but it looks to me as if you have just posted the same diagram twice. Did you change it? I totally agree that the right software is important, but the facilitation of that software can make a huge differenc. The right software won’t help if the faciitation is inappropriate. I take it from your diagram (and subsequent reply to Jonny) that you’d rather be in the rainforest?

When you talk about Low Alignment Expectations, do you mean that the student is not expecting much? But when you talk about High Alignment Expectations you mean that the student expect high things from the facilitator and their learning experience? If so, would that student, if the right facitliator managed to re-engage them, potentially shift down to the right and need to be in the rainforest? Would they then be right to expect a change in facitiatative style? Or would they drown?

]]> By: Stephen Powell http://www.stephenp.net/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-331 Stephen Powell Sat, 05 Feb 2005 23:40:39 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-331 Yup, agree with the confusion but it is hard to come up with enough good metaphors in the same topic. Also another confusion I think as farming is a person mad process and product whereas ecosystems are natural products if you see what I mean. So I think I need to stick with the farming metaphors and have tried to tweak em:^) So in the top diagram where I had a desert I was thinking of a place I wouldn’t want to be, but as you point out this muddled things somewhat. I do like the DT, FT…… though and that could replace the attempted metaphors as it is more descriptive. Yup, agree with the confusion but it is hard to come up with enough good metaphors in the same topic. Also another confusion I think as farming is a person mad process and product whereas ecosystems are natural products if you see what I mean. So I think I need to stick with the farming metaphors and have tried to tweak em:^)

So in the top diagram where I had a desert I was thinking of a place I wouldn’t want to be, but as you point out this muddled things somewhat. I do like the DT, FT…… though and that could replace the attempted metaphors as it is more descriptive.

]]> By: Jonny Dyer http://www.stephenp.net/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-330 Jonny Dyer Sat, 05 Feb 2005 05:19:56 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/02/04/why-the-right-software-is-important/#comment-330 I think the idea of the diagram is fantastic. I'm a little confused by the ecological references though. If I can apply my ever-so-simplistic interpretations of the four main quarters, then: didactic teaching (DT) = teacher defined journey. facilitative teaching (FT) = learner defined journey. Instructional Philosophy (IP) = lots of teacher defined stuff/content/resources Social Constructivist Philosophy (SP) = no stuff/content/ resources followed by bespoke creation. So: DT + IP = lots of stuff and pre determined pathways = intensive farming. highly 'efficient' teaching led sausage machine. DT + SP = lots of direction but no resources to work with (tenuous desert?). Now I agree with the two titles (though the mixture of farming and habitats is a wee bit confusing), but by swapping over the top two, it starts to make sense. I could babble more - but I'll stop and see what come back first I think the idea of the diagram is fantastic. I’m a little confused by the ecological references though. If I can apply my ever-so-simplistic interpretations of the four main quarters, then:

didactic teaching (DT) = teacher defined journey.
facilitative teaching (FT) = learner defined journey.
Instructional Philosophy (IP) = lots of teacher defined stuff/content/resources
Social Constructivist Philosophy (SP) = no stuff/content/ resources followed by bespoke creation.

So:

DT + IP = lots of stuff and pre determined pathways = intensive farming. highly ‘efficient’ teaching led sausage machine.
DT + SP = lots of direction but no resources to work with (tenuous desert?).

Now I agree with the two titles (though the mixture of farming and habitats is a wee bit confusing), but by swapping over the top two, it starts to make sense.

I could babble more - but I’ll stop and see what come back first

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