learning design and volunteering
DESCRIPTION
A presentation about using Learning Design to support volunteering-style activities, such as the PACE program at Macquarie UniversityTRANSCRIPT
Learning Design and Volunteering
James DalzielProfessor of Learning Technology &
Director, Macquarie E-Learning Centre Of Excellence (MELCOE)
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
www.melcoe.mq.edu.au
Recorded presentation for ALTC National Teaching Fellowship
Background
• Recorded presentation to accompany main Learning Design workshop recordings for ALTC National Teaching Fellowship– See 3 Workshop recordings, and 2 Larnaca Declaration
recordings at http://www.slideshare.net/jdalziel71
– Learning Design context and Larnaca Declaration
• Reflections on using Learning Design for Volunteering– PACE at Macquarie & Australian Volunteers International
– Online training for volunteering unlike LMS structures
– Re-use/adaptation of Learning Designs and volunteering
Learning DesignLearning Design
Learning Design Practice(LD-P)
Learning Design
Conceptual Map
(LD-CM)
Learning Design
Framework(LD-F)
The Larnaca Declaration on Learning Design:New Definitions for the future of the fieldSee www.larnacadeclaration.org for document
Learning Environment: Characteristics & Values
External Agencies InstitutionEducator Learner
All pedagogical approachesAll disciplines
Educational Philosophy
A range based on assumptions about the Learning Environment
Theories & Methodologies
Guidance Representation Sharing
Core Concepts of Learning Design
Tools Resources
Implementation
Program
Module
Session
Learning Activities
Level of Granularity
Teaching Cycle
Feedback Assessment Learner Analytics Evaluation
Learner Responses
Creating learning experiences aligned to particular pedagogical approaches and learning objectives
Challenge
Learning Design and Volunteering
• Macquarie University has implemented “PACE” (Professional and Community Engagement) program as one of the pillars of the undergraduate experience
• “PACE units foster professional and community engagement by enabling students to work with partner organisations in a range of workplace activities as part of their degree. PACE activities are similar to:– internships
– practicums
– field trips with a partnership component
– community service and learning
– community development and/or research projects”
Learning Design and Volunteering
• PACE includes local, regional and international activities– PACE activities tend to have a different structure to a typical 13
week unit
• While a LMS can be used for online aspects of PACE (or similar) activities, the “course page” structure isn’t always well suited
• By contrast, Learning Design, because it focuses on just a single set of activities, can be more appropriate, as the online component for a PACE task can be one (or more) sequences of online activities– Without the need for a unit page with a dropbox, email, etc
Learning Design and Volunteering
• The different online needs of volunteering vs traditional units was more pronounced for Australian Volunteers International, who support programs like PACE and others
• AVI does not really have any structure equivalent to a “unit” or “course”, so a typical LMS course page structure can seem quite out of place
• Whereas a one or more Learning Designs, each accessible via a URL, is more flexible to add to project co-ordination pages, such as a blog or wiki
Learning Design and Volunteering
• A second benefit of Learning Design for Volunteering arises from the ease of re-use and adaptation of Learning Designs
• In many cases, similar online training or support materials are used across multiple groups and multiple projects– Often with only small changes, eg, slight policy changes for
different contexts
• The ease of re-using and editing Learning Designs support rapid creation/adapting/updating of online support/training materials
Example of re-usable Learning Design for Project preparation
Example of re-usable Learning Design for country visit
Conclusion
• Learning Design can be particularly appropriate for online training for volunteering-style activities
• Avoids the constraints of a typical LMS course page
• Support easy re-use and adaptation of training materials– More suitable for contexts with many projects with small
variations in training requirements