Terms, words and understanding

I am currently spending a few days with my parents who live close to my Brother in Sheffield. This side of the family are theologians and intellectuals so we always end up having interesting conversations/discussions.

Anyway both my dad and brother are sticklers for the correct use of words and their meanings. Which has particularly struck me as I have been thinking about this of late after reading a recent blog posting by Donald Clark. Donald was passionately criticising the term pedagogy and suggests that "The language of learning is a mishmash of backward-looking classical, industrial and behaviourist terms, but this is the one that masks an uncomfortable truth." He goes on to explain that this truth is that the science of teaching is based on little evidence and is clearly not learner centred. I have never liked this term and although I completely agree it doesn't refer to learning my main beef is that its use implies some mystic art and alienates those without academic background (who think that people who use the term have the key to some secret answer to teaching and learning).

This got me thinking about another term that has long bothered me...Instructional Design or Instructional Designer. Wikipedia defines it as 'the practice of creating instructional tools and content to help facilitate learning most effectively' and goes on to highlight the big issue with the term....that we have confused who's role it is to do this instructional design....is it the media specialist of the learning specialist?

Now bear with me as this may start getting a bit rambling (remember this is a blog of personal reflections)...although I got very good marks when I did the Instructional Design module in my Masters I walked away having no clue about the subject what so ever!

The term instructional implies (at least to me) that you are instructing the user through a process or learning object. Which when you are talking about digital media is normally the role of the media designer based on their knowledge and experience in user interface design (ie they implement the agreed treatment and/or storyboard through the effective presentation of information, the placement of interactions, buttons, colours etc). However instructional designers are normally the learning designers who work with the client to design the learning process, treatment and storyboard.

Now when I started this posting I thought I was going to be just say at the end that we should start using the term media designer and learning designer (the latter being my planned description if I ever go contracting). But I now think this isn't the answer. I now believe we need a title for someone who does learning and interface design (who then hands over to a media creator).

Thinking back on my experiences working with commercial elearning suppliers the best experience and resulting objects came when the Instructional Designer carried out these two functions. They created the complete, graphical storyboard and simply handed over the creation to a media specialist. No interpretation or design was required....the media creator just focused on the graphics and creation of the object. This also allowed me, the customer, to sign off on the object design prior to creation (but that is a whole different rant).

So what should this person be called as Instruction Designer really isn't working and now I think about it neither does Learning Designer? Comments welcome as I have no idea but I sure want a name.

The importance of learning environments

Good learning environment are important to me.....people who know me will know that because its a bit of a hobby horse of mine. Lots of things drive me nuts (laziness, stupidity and people that bother me when I'm stressed)...but bad learning environments come pretty high on my list of pet hates.

Now when I talk about learning environment I mean any environment that someone learns in, not just the online version we normally associate with the term. A room can have all the essential elements to provide a learning environment but if you haven't put thought into how it is arranged the best course the world will still struggle.

Just because a room has tables, chairs, projector, laptop and people doesn't make it a good learning environment. In the same way, just because a VLE. LMS or online conferencing facility has all the tools you have on your list of requirements doesn't mean its a good learning environment or that it will fit your pedagogy.

So what is a good learning environment? Well that depends what you want to happen....but mostly its common sense (I know, why do so many people get it wrong if its just conmen sense?!?!). In the physical room I suggest the following;

• If you want interaction and co-operative learning (and lets face it most session do) them make sure people can see each other.
• If there will be presentations make sure EVERY learner can see the screen (not always easy if they need to see each other).
• Give them the right tools, if they need to do go online use laptops not PCs. Laptops offer more flexibility and the hight of the screen is lower so they can still interact with each other.
• Don't under estimate the power of light and air. I know its not always possible but nature daylight is really important to us humans.
• Clean, tidy and modern environments are good but not always essential. The most important thing is the learner feels comfortable.
• Do what you can to encourage an informal environment, give them opportunities to interact with each others. Placing sweets and water at intervals along a table gives them a reason to interact and socialise.
• Activities that bridge lunch are also good. People need a break but they also appreciate a focus for the downtimes where they might feel awkward.

If you are using someone elses room don't be afraid to roll your sleeves and start moving tables. Commercial venues hate me because I normally take to pieces their nicely laid out rooms and re-arrange them to suit the needs of the course. I've been known to spend an hour re-arranging tables and sitting in each seat until it was right! When its right it makes such a difference and its a small amount of effort compared to what is going to be involved for the trainer and learner during the day.

As for online learning environments....watch this space for another posting. I am pretty sure I know what the key points are but I need more time to test these out in practice before I start preaching...this is one time when I know what doesn't work but need to test what I think does!