Embedding?
At a conference I attended recently, there was much discussion about what “embedding” means in the context of e-learning in Higher Education.
I was thinking maybe we should be talking about “Mbedding” because possibly the whole point is to lose the “e”… Technology should be just one of the tools which teachers use to develop, deliver and facilitate learning, no more or less important than any other. To use technology that way, however, there need to be a lot of things in place – infrastructure and support (including availability of IT experts and learning technologists), training and awareness building, piloting of technologies, and research into the pedagogical aspects of using technology (as there should be research into pedagogical aspects of all learning practices).
I believe a lot of us are coming to the same conclusion, but the problem is that we’re thinking a few years ahead of current practice. We’re still working to persuade about EMbedding, still making the case to use tech tools in the first place. The other problem is that any real change to a course or programme requires going back to the “first principles” of course design — something a lot of course directors have to be dragged kicking and screaming to do. THEY THINK it’s all about the technology, but WE KNOW it’s about the whole course.
I believe a lot of us are coming to the same conclusion, but the problem is that we’re thinking a few years ahead of current practice. We’re still working to persuade about EMbedding, still making the case to use tech tools in the first place. The other problem is that any real change to a course or programme requires going back to the “first principles” of course design — something a lot of course directors have to be dragged kicking and screaming to do. THEY THINK it’s all about the technology, but WE KNOW it’s about the whole course.