My information processing workflow stinks. Let me elaborate a bit. I am a high throughput information worker. Peter Drucker originally articulated the idea of a “knowledge worker” in 1959, he was proposing a classification with the primary goal of describing the work of people who applied knowledge directly and in a unique way, to the…
In an earlier post, I discussed the concept of first principles thinking and the value of learning something new or teaching it to someone else. Traditional models of learning focus on time and linear growth over time, or a stepped process in which your thinking quickly advances when you “get it.” Threshold Concepts suggest that…
When we try to learn a new concept, we’re often overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information on a topic. As an example, take one of my fields, digital literacy. There is a large amount of research on the topic. It also is a challenge to stay informed as the one constant is change. In…
How do you hit reset and go back to zero? How do you ignore sunk costs and pivot to something new? This could be starting up a new job, ending a relationship, or using a new notetaking app. This is often a challenge as you are hamstrung as you seek to “make the most” of spent…
Learning strategies refer to methods that students use to learn. A learning strategy is an individual’s way of organizing and using a particular set of skills in order to learn content or accomplish other tasks more effectively and efficiently in academic and nonacademic settings. These may range from techniques for improved metacognition to better studying…
Journaling is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time.Mina Murray In an earlier post, I discussed formative and summative assessments, and how they can provide opportunities to support learners. Assessment is a fundamental component of the teaching & learning process. Formative & summative assessments can provide meaningful opportunities to meet the…
In this post I’ll discuss assessment, a fundamental component of the teaching & learning processes. I’ll then describe formative & summative assessments, which can provide meaningful opportunities to meet diverse needs of students. Learning Pathways It’s important to first note that learning isn’t linear. If we were to think about the pathways that brought us…
The term empowerment, or an indication of a focus on empowering students or teachers, pops up again and again in my research and publications. One of the first instances is in my dissertation proposal and final materials. When I started writing about this, I received a lot of negative feedback from advisors in my program…
This idea is framed differently in various places, but the most concise version comes from Tony Robbins. Robbins states: We’ve all been put to sleep by somebody who’s told us all these wonderful facts that didn’t matter because information without emotion is not retained. Emotions in learning Emotions play a large part not only in garnering attention, but…
This statement comes from military and police parlance and usually indicates a focus on mobility and dexterity in operations. Combat and conflict often center on mobility. If you move too fast, you can be outflanked. If you move too slow, you can be pinned down. The best course may be a cautious, thoughtful understanding of planned moves.…