Learnlets » Types and proportions of learning activities? - 0 views
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Liz Glowa on 07 Oct 14"I'll argue that what is useful is making better decisions. That is, the ability to explain what's happened and react, or predict what will happen and make the right choice as as consequence. This comes from model-based reasoning. What sort of learning helps model-based reasoning? Two types, in a simple framework. You need to process the models to help them be comprehended, and use them in context to make decisions with the consequences providing feedback. Yes, there likely will be some content presentation, but it's not everything, and instead is the core model with examples of how it plays out in context. That is, annotated diagrams or narrated animations for the models; comic books, cartoons, or videos for the examples. Media, not bullet points. The processing that helps make models stick includes having learners generate products: giving them data or outcomes and having them develop explanatory models. They can produce summary charts and tables that serve as decision aids. They can create syntheses and recommendations. This really leads to internalization and ownership, but it may be more time-consuming than worthwhile. The other approach is to have learners make predictions using the models, explaining things. Worst case, they can answer questions about what this model implies in particular contexts. So this is a knowledge question, but not a "is this an X or a Y", but rather "you have to achieve Z, would you use approach X, or approach Y". Most importantly, you need people to use the models to make decisions like they'll be making in the workplace. That means scenarios and simulations. Yes, a mini-scenario of one question is essentially a multiple choice (though better written with a context and a decision), but really things tend to be bundled up, and you at least need branching scenarios. A series of these might be enough if the task isn't too complex, but if it's somewhat complex, it might be worth creating a model-based simu