e-Learning Ecologies MOOC’s Updates

Ubiquitous Learning: My definition

Ubiquitous learning, is considered one of the new practices in education. This type transcends the space and time. Space as considered the walls of the classroom, and time, regarding schedules. Although, it transcends these physical and curricular spaces, it creates a new one virtually ( named cloud space) which has a lot benefits. This type of space allows students to work in a collaborative manner and form a solid network of people. As this type of computing makes the student be more active ( share his ideas and thoughts with other students/ peer feedback/ using arguments) with the concepts taught in the curriculum, it makes it have a long learning knowledge.

In regards of the teacher, instead of supervising, he can go and check students all work at any time that he needs. In fact, as an assessment, the teacher could make use of e-portafolios to evaluate and get to know their student more, as for being an everyday or weekly work. This type could be done individually or collaboratively.

Furthermore, the concept of Ubiquitous learning, could be regarded as over-the- shoulder learning ( informal learning) and can be done in the media environment. As an activity, to promote an over-the-shoulder learning, a professor could make use of case studies, and to comment them on the forum about the different solutions to solve the case.

The concept of flipped classroom is linked to Ubiquitous Learning, too. This type of learning, consists of making students read the materials previously before class and discuss the main details. This promotes students’ contributions between them, as well as, peer feedback.

To conclude, ubiquitous learning is much more than just a concept that could be summed up in few lines. It is something much more deep and related to culture. According to Cope and Kalantzis (2010) ubiquitous learning invites to social reflexivity which creates communities of practice. Ubiquitous learning is changing our perceptions about education and the way a student sees and seeks knowledge.

References: 

Cope, W. & Kalantzis, M. (2010). Ubiquitous learning: An agenda for educational transformation. p. 978-1. Retrieved from: researchgate.com 

  • Antoinette Morrison