My design for Learning 2011 also revolves around content themes and "frameworks". This year, one of those is a simple word with powerful implications:
"LEARNING AFFORDANCES"
Simply, "affordances" are a way of thinking about the capabilities that a new technology may provide to:
- a learner
- a designer
- a manager
- the enterprise or organization
For example, a new tablet computer may come to market in the next few months. While it might be cool, exciting or even financially affordable, we want to look at the "learning affordances" that it might provide. Will it help them to create or participate in learning experiences:
- Faster?
- Deeper?
- Farther?
- With More Flexibility?
- Less Expensively?
- and more....
For example, a mobile device with a Performance Support Application, might be seen as providing the affordances of: just in time and just for me delivery of content to the learner - even perhaps using GPS location to make it more automatically context rich. It is powerful to look at a new technology from the affordance perspective - rather than just the features or hype. And, we can take a 360 view of it by exploring the affordances provided to the learner, designer, manager or enterprise - which might be quite different.
I will introduce the term "Learning Affordances" in a video to all of our Learning 2011 participants 2 weeks before the event and also brief all of our faculty and presenters. That will provide a shared "framework" for discussing how a new (or old) technology might provide additional capabilities for learners, designers, managers or the institution.
Part of designing a learning event for 2,000 participants, with over 230 sessions, is to weave together some hopefully shared/common frameworks or language elements that can help divergent views surface and be discussed meaningfully.
We look forward to exploring "Learning Affordances" with you in just 50 days at Learning 2011.