changing our educational institutions

Changing our Educational Institution

Inge de Waard

The educational storm is coming

learning and learning institutions are at a turning point

Global institutional reform is happening, Institutions in North AND South are willing to come of

age (picture: Dear

Chicka)

The storm affects us all

Learners become more autonomous and globally active Teachers are no longer the sage on the stage Knowledge is no longer confined to walls of any institution Technology is pervasive and global Knowledge production is exponential

(picture by Nathalie J. Williams)

Long-term planning is essential

=> Change is inevitable

Prepare for 21st century learning realities

Tailor pedagogy Changes within the institution Locate strategic benefits Overcome challenges

It is all about collaboration, lifelong & ubiquitous learning, connecting & networking

1. Tailor pedagogy

Create a pedagogy that fits 21st century reality… REALLY

Educational quality

What is educational quality for us? Is it … Critical pedagogy (e.g. Paulo Freire)? Strengthening networked learning? Up-to-date content? Rigorous content quality?

…

quality affects pedagogy and visa versa=> these choices build our brains

Learner-centered

Self-regulated learning Critical analysis is essential Enable career opportunities Use learner’s field expertise and add to their needs Support PLE (personal learning environment)

Specialty of the learner is constructed by the learner: allow self-constructed learning to occur, especially with PhD and post docs

Facilitator between the learners

Professor = no longer the sage on the stage, Teachers become facilitators Sharing and exchanging knowledge Opening professional networks

e.g. CCKxx, Quest to learn

Embed innovative technologies If you are a small educational institution, pure DE

won’t save you, there are too many big players already on the scene; but DE techniques can be implemented in learning & used for lifelong learning

Innovative technologies improve learning IF they are used for the right purpose

New communication techniques offer quicker and more in-depth access to relevant content

E.g. simulations, live data (GIS), augmented reality, mobile pervasive learning

2. Changes within the institution

(picture taken from Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS) website: www.neuroskills.com)

Choose your area of the bigger brain & create an educational genius

Institutional collaboration: strategic alliances

Partnerships = survival (global village) HUBs are increasing (University of Queensland, Australia;

Uni of Pretoria, …), specialized teachers from partner institutions

Take on one part of an overall highly specialized course with partner institutions that you trust

Competition is all around us, but only TRUST will save us

Huge uni’s can provide full and complete curricula, smaller institutions have to specialize

TRUST & COOPERATE

Advantages of being small

Small educational institutions that offer highly specialized topics via new contemporary pedagogies can:

Adapt quick to change

Learner collaboration extends the institution

Allowing informal learning Using innovative communication technologies

(social media, education2.0) Providing places were

content/expertise/knowledge can be exchanged with potential future partners

Learning is no longer (was it ever?) confined to the institution, so how do we create a global, strong learning environment?

Ubiquitous and authentic learning

Ubiquitous learning: technology is all around us. History states that technological shifts define global outcomes: let’s learn everywhere. Collaborate with (national/international) educational institutions that build apps.

Authentic learning: learning much closer to the

subject and within the context of the learner

3. Locate strategic benefits

Educational Google? Can our educational start-up be part of a whole?

Finding the niche/gap

Localize the dire priority for knowledge: what can we offer that is not offered? Or

will increasingly be needed

Lifelong learning = keeping updated

keeping people updated in a Community of Practitioners

Who finds us? And how?

What is our profile to the outside world? Get alumni in the picture Motivate learners that use 2.0 Be visible as an educational institution Be promoted by your alumni

Focusing on top learners?

If you cannot offer all, offer specialty

Focusing on PhD and post docs increases research status, and brings in experience from the field

But these students want MORE, they expect innovative technologies that will deepen their understanding and enable localized, context rich tailoring => so prepare your pedagogical approach

4. Overcoming challenges

(Another great cartoon by Nick D Kim, nearingzero.net.)

Cheap learning

What if learning can be purchased cheaper elsewhere?

What is our educational surplus in a global master world?

What makes us stand out?

How can we insure this outstanding position? Critical medical thinking? just-in-time medical snippets? sharp diagnosis (tools)? New age pedagogies? Focus on local learner segment?

What is our position in the long tail of learning?

Questions? Engage!

Contact meEmail: idewaard@itg.be

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