The Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy was developed by John Biggs and Kevin Collis (1982) to support the assessment of learning, by identifying the sophistication of the learner’s understanding (mental model). This post suggests a couple of shortcomings of the taxonomy and a revised taxonomy (SOLO2.0) which helps to address them. ...continue reading "SOLO 2.0"
Category: Description
Fullan’s seminal ideas on educational change
Michael Fullan is a (or perhaps the) world leading authority on educational change. So when he identifies 'seminal ideas' on educational change it is worth engaging with them. Here is a summary of his 12 seminal ideas, which he identified in his auto-biography. ...continue reading "Fullan’s seminal ideas on educational change"
Models of provision v2
In a previous post I set out five models of provision spanning face to face to fully online (and well designed) courses. That failed to fully capture at least one 'blended' model. I have reconceptualised the models - resulting in this new 'framework'. ...continue reading "Models of provision v2"
The halfbaked academic rubric
I have to admit that I’m not a fan of rubrics – preferring non-standardised forms of assessment – and perhaps because most of the rubrics I have come across have been pretty terrible. So I thought I’d have a go at developing a better one. ...continue reading "The halfbaked academic rubric"
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Traditionally we have told students that if they work hard at school and get good results they can go to university and upon graduation will get a good job.
Such stories are no longer true (I wonder whether they were ever true for many people). Our career pathways are more complex than that. Here's my story - ...continue reading "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
From F2F to Online Courses – models of provision
NB I've posted a new (improved?) version of the models of provision.
For over 20 years I worked at the Open University (UK) which is a world leader in online distance education. Over the last few years I have had the privilege of spending time at a number of predominantly face-to-face universities in Australia that were at various stages of developing their online provision, including over the last few months when most courses went online due to COVID19. I have been struck by the vast range of different approaches to online course provision I have seen, and thought it would be useful to try to categorise them. ...continue reading "From F2F to Online Courses – models of provision"
Review of ‘Should robots replace teachers?’
This book by Neil Selwyn looks at the reality and rhetoric around AI in education. It feels like an easy read but it raises a number of complex critical issues and questions that anyone involved in education or developing AI based tools should engage with. ...continue reading "Review of ‘Should robots replace teachers?’"
Brief review of Quantitative Ethnography (Shaffer 2017)
As nobody wanted to give me a review copy I went out and bought this book, and I’m glad I did. It is a good book – it is an important book – indeed I think every researcher (whether coming from a positivist or interpretivist standpoint) would benefit from reading it. ...continue reading "Brief review of Quantitative Ethnography (Shaffer 2017)"
Some thoughts on curriculum
Collins English Dictionary defines curriculum as "all the different courses of study that are taught in a school, college, or university". This is a rather narrow definition, focussing as it does on the explicit curriculum. I am going to redefine curriculum as what students need to learn (with my focus being specifically on what school age learners need to learn). ...continue reading "Some thoughts on curriculum"
Some thoughts on pedagogy
Collins English Dictionary defines pedagogy as "the study and theory of the methods and principles of teaching". Personally I think that is too teacher centric, so I am going to use pedagogy to mean the theory and practices of (effective) ways to support human learning. ...continue reading "Some thoughts on pedagogy"