The Changing
Context of
Learning.
THINK PIECE 2013
Tim Klapdor
Innovation Technology
Officer
DIVISION OF STUDENT LEARNING
Understanding
what context is.
People.
THEIR GOALS AND TASKS
Information,
Technology &
Infrastructure
WHAT’S AVAILABLE?
Environments.
PHYSICAL & SOCIAL LOCATIONS
Higher Education is
stuck with a contextual
model of learning that
is based around the
campus.
Pedagogy.
Practice.
Content.
Technology.
Does this model reflect
our student enrolments
and what is unique
about CSU? Our
diversity, strategic goals
& community?
Information,
Technology &
Infrastructure.
It took just seventy years to get from a
device the size of a two-story building to
a device that fits in your pocket. Seventy
years to build a browsable, searchable
archive of information, accessible
globally. Seventy years between a time
when research and data was locked up
in books, available to only a privileged
few, and a time when information and
communication could be obtained by
everyone, everywhere.
		 - Karen McGrane
1993
2013
video camera
camera
gps
torch
calculator
gameboy
ereader
voice recorder
dictionary
board games
newspaper
dictionaries
maps/atlas
notepad
radio
alarm clock
dvd player
landline telephone
watch
diary/planner
novels
compass
usb drive
rolodex/contacts
photo frame
3g modem
pedometer
situated ! location " mobile
static ! environment " dynamic
slow ! speed of change " rapid
separated ! technology " embedded
formal ! structure " organic
low ! level of convenience " high
abstracted ! authenticity " situated
centralised ! resources " distributed
PC AGE MOBILE AGE
situated ! location " mobile
static ! environment " dynamic
slow ! speed of change " rapid
separated ! technology " embedded
formal ! structure " organic
low ! level of convenience " high
abstracted ! authenticity " situated
centralised ! resources " distributed
PC AGE
CAMPUS MOBILE AGE
MOBILE AGE
situated ! location " mobile
static ! environment " dynamic
slow ! speed of change " rapid
separated ! technology " embedded
formal ! structure " organic
low ! level of convenience " high
abstracted ! authenticity " situated
centralised ! resources " distributed
PC AGE
CAMPUS STUDENT
CENTRED
Student
Context.
Learning doesn’t make
a distinction between
location and physical
environment, it follows
the student.
Learning is social.
Learning is tied to
professional ambition.
Opportunities.
Learning Experience
high ! connected " low
high ! social " low
high ! proximity " low
high ! interactive " low
social ! experience " solo
dialogue ! communication " exchange
CAMPUS STUDENT
CENTRED
Mobile
Opportunities.
Relevant.
LEARNING CAN BE SITUATED RATHER THAN
SIMULATED
Convenient &
Flexible
LEARNING OCCURS ANYWHERE, AT ANY TIME
Learner
Controlled.
STUDENTS CAN TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND DIRECT
THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES
Socially
Connected.
OPEN NEW CHANNELS TO COMMUNICATING
WITH PEERS AND EXPERTS
Reflective.
ENABLES EFFORTLESS RECORDING OF
AUTHENTIC LEARNING FOR A PORTFOLIO
Reframe.
Campus Student
PEOPLE’S TASKS
& GOALS
SOCIAL & PHYISCAL
ENVIRONMENTS
INFORMATION,
TECHNOLOGY,
& INFRASTRUCTURE
STUDENT
CENTRED
A Connected &
Interactive CSU
Experience.
Thank You.
Images.St. Peter’s Square in 2005 and 2013 - http://goo.gl/jio4B
1993 vs 2013 - http://goo.gl/ekoCeD
Institution designed by Diego Naive from The Noun Project
User designed by Łukasz Kupś (ofcapl) from The Noun Project

The Changing Context of Learning