Digital Age Learning Matrix

As part of a doctoral thesis I have been thinking about how to measure learning activities in a way that is appropriate for the digital era. I wanted to find a model that included the ideas of connectivism, creating knowledge and included critique and evaluation. I didn't find an existing model that fitted my purpose so developed one that I have now tested and used with different groups- it has proved to be a useful tool to use when discussing lesson, unit and year plans with teachers. I have found it can lead to interesting professional conversations about personal beliefs about knowledge and learning in the digital age.

The matrix includes 6 levels of activites given to students:
Doing
Thinking about connections
Thinking about concepts
Critiquing and evaluating.
Creating knowledge.
Sharing knowledge.
A learning activity will commonly be at more than one level.

The matrix explores different ways that digital technologies are used in learning and how each use has different levels. the different uses in the matrix includes:
Accessing information
Presenting
Processing information
Gaming and interactive programmes
Communicating

I am interested in any feedback about the matrix; either email me or add to comments below.
Link to paper to download: acec2008 (apologies I couldn't figure out a way of including the matrix clearly in the blog!)

Starkey, L. (2008). Evaluating Learning in Classroom Activities using Digital Technologies. Paper presented at the ACEC 2008, Canberra.

Creativity in the digital age.

What does being creative in the digital age mean?

There are a range of digital tools that can be used creatively. Photoshop can be used for exploring identity through the arts.

Digital technology can be integrated into painting or art- here is a clip showing how this is occuring in NZ.


Music can be composed or developed without knowing how to write music.



Music, images and information can be downloaded, altered or added to and created into something new. (I won't go into copyright here).



While these tools are useful and expand thinking about what it might mean to be creative in the digital age, it is global collaboration that is the exciting development. Being able to work collaboratively with others with a similar interest or passion (see the long tail), has the potential to lead to increased creative capability globally. In the past it may have been by chance or hard work that you find people who have similar ideas and interests to yourself, now via social networks you can develop these. Interesting to apply the ideas from Wikinomics (Don Tapscott's latest book), to the idea of creativity and education.

Connectivism

George Siemens proposes a learning theory for digital age. While it still has some of the underpinning aspects of constructivism, it is fundamentally different. It takes into account one key idea espoused by Bereiter- that knowledge does not exist within one person's mind. This learning theory is worth a look.
George is a regular blogger.