Wanting to reflect on what face to face and what online communication
and learning had to offer. I used the following to stir my thinking pot about it.
- The Face to Face curve
- Average retention rates Pyramid
- The Australian article about students saying no podcasts
The Face To Face Curve
While not dismissing online interactions this representation points to some thing special
happening in face to face environments. It makes some sense to me having just been to the big face to face of Ulearn08. I believe that huge learning that can happen when we txt, blog, read and comment within our personal learning networks. The people we are involved with in these
spaces are more filterable and subject to our moderation. The New Zealand educators in my learning network may get verified by f2f meetings but there can be an interaction richness long before this. It would lead me to think that f2f can provide alot but the essence of effective learning may come about from other nuances likely to exist in that environment.
Average Retention Rates
The average retention diagram (from USA's National Training Laboratory)has some other insights in my mind as to what we might look for to maximise learning.
Given the f2f curve's proposition that communication, capability and richness increase as we approach a f2f threshhold the average retention throws down a different perspective.
Much participatory and active learning achievement can come from engagement in online learning.
Even some physical achievements are virtualised and placed online as performances, document of construction and actual events.
In fact the face to face often is now recorded to become the digital artifact.
Many bloggers have posting as a part of a personal learning network that has perhaps more emotional engagement and nuance (perhaps stretching it) than we would expect.
Facilitating f2f meetings will bring most for these bloggers when the same discussion groups, teaching of others and practice by doing is afforded by the face to face experience.
(note this diagram has been ousted as a hoax)
Students say no to Podcasts
Which brings me to no wonder we have students saying no to the lack of inspiration, encouragement and isolation where online learning is not well constructed and understanding interaction richness.
