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Category: Explanation

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Published on 7 Comments on What is Point of Learning (PoL) – moving beyond standardised testing

PoL book coverPoint of Learning (PoL) is both a reflective learning tool and a means of collecting evidence about performance against agreed targets.

PoL is an alternative approach to assessment that ...continue reading "What is Point of Learning (PoL) – moving beyond standardised testing"

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Published on 4 Comments on Ontology, epistemology and theory – big words for simple ideas

I spent years worrying about words like ontology, epistemology and theory (particularly theory), but now I think that like much jargon they are big words behind which there are some pretty simple ideas. So here is my simplistic take on ontology, epistemology and theory: ...continue reading "Ontology, epistemology and theory – big words for simple ideas"

Published on Leave a comment on Trying to explain sociocultural theory – part 1 – context

This is my take on sociocultural theory, based on reading of relevant literature (e.g. Lave's work) and (most importantly) discussions with Prof Patricia Murphy, and with other members of the NP3 team.

Context matters in sociocultural theory. In particular three levels of context: ...continue reading "Trying to explain sociocultural theory – part 1 – context"

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Published on 4 Comments on Digital technology, SES and disadvantage

I have always assumed that there was a straightforward relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and opportunities to use digital technology outside school. However, ...continue reading "Digital technology, SES and disadvantage"

Published on Leave a comment on Educational vision is not enough (D2)

[This is a second draft following thought provoking feedback from Will Richardson on the original version (thanks Will) - key changes include a revised version of the 'key relationships' diagram and subsequent explanatory text]

We know that having a shared educational vision is important because it enables us all to travel in the same direction. “Vision is a key part of ending up someplace on purpose” (Hill 2010 p.28). However, ...continue reading "Educational vision is not enough (D2)"

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Published on 2 Comments on Educational vision is not enough

[This draft has been superseded following thought provoking feedback from Will Richardson. Check out the second draft ...]

We know that having a shared educational vision is important because it enables us all to travel in the same direction. “Vision is a key part of ending up someplace on purpose” (Hill 2010 p.28). However, ...continue reading "Educational vision is not enough"

Published on Leave a comment on What do you mean by learning?

Learning is one of those fuzzy terms that we bandy about, often without being clear about what it means. We kind of assume that ...continue reading "What do you mean by learning?"

Published on Leave a comment on Why halfbaked?

Most people would accept that our education systems need to change to reflect the world around them. However, there isn't general agreement about what those changes might look like or indeed what the purposes of education should be in the automation age.

A traditional academic approach would be to carry out research and then publish findings in a refereed journal article. I have a number of concerns about that ...

  • academic research is often dependent upon external funding - which often distorts both the research focus and approach (and at times willingness to publish findings)
  • the process of publishing academic research findings is generally slow and what gets through the review process may be distorted by views of what counts as high quality research (e.g. by the metrics used in research assessment exercises such as the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in the UK)
  • we already have a great deal of evidence (from theory, practice and research) that is relevant to education - but much of these seems to be ignored. For example, research that I led looking at the implementation of the then government's Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategy concluded  that

...continue reading "Why halfbaked?"