I have spent the last six months working on a final project for my Masters in Educational Technology Degree with the University of British Columbia.

The goal was to figure out -what I am passionate about as an educator, parent and person?

 

The answer is: I believe that learning takes place everywhere. Flexible learning has given every learner the opportunity to learn in ways, with people, and through means I never thought possible. The learner is different because the opportunities are different. I advocate for local k12 curriculum as well as and with an integration of informal learning opportunities.

 

My passion is about measuring all the different types and means of learning and creating a common learning currency. I want self-directed learning in free open courses, learning in Minecraft, learning how to play the guitar from youtube, learning through DIY.org and learning by leading a social protest against about a hidden agenda – to all be equal. Because what we learn in a classroom or institution is only one form of learning.

 

How can we create a credible currency for informal learning?

 

I started my focus on how flexible learning applies to flexible learning environments, and in particular opportunities for High School students in the pilot m101 program at UBC. When I was asked to write a literature review for my ETC 580 project about k12 open learning I hit a huge barrier. I had been investigating and researching k12 open learning opportunities and models for 18 months – and I was stuck. I needed a huge push to figure out next directions.

 

For me – that next direction was flexible learning pathways. I needed to focus on how learning could be measured in formal and informal learning environments to support personalized learning opportunities.

 

These are the steps I took based on my own giant learning flexible pathway. One of the primary goals was to create a transparent learning pathway so others could see how and where I learned.

 

Learning Pathway – ETEC580 Individual Project

Verena Roberts – UBC MET

Graduate Student Researcher, Innovator

ETEC 580

Advisor: Dr. David Vogt

Objectives:

1. To Research and Examine current flexible open learning in k12

2. To Research and Analyze open and informal measures of evidence of learning in k12/Higher Ed

3. To Research, Examine, Compare and Contrast criteria creation for open badges, including competencies

4. To Examine and Describe how flexible learning offers access to new learners in M101

5. To Research and Design  the open badges learning pathway for m101

Higher Education (UBC focus)

6. To Research, Synthesize  and Propose flexible learning pathway potential at UBC

Competencies:

A. Integrate Flexible Mobile Learning

B. Model Integration of  Formal and Informal Learning

C. Consider Transparent Research

D. Develop Authentic Connections

E. Demonstrate Entrepreneurial Spirit

F. Personalized Learning

 

Evidence of Learning:

Blog: http://www.openclassroomonline.com

Tracking ETEC580 Research: ETEC 580 Updates

 

Rubric Measurement :

Em: Emerging

F: Formulating

C: Consolidating

Ex: Exemplary

Numeric Rubric: Click HERE

This is the first blog post one in a series of posts that define and support flexible learning pathways  as  a possible step towards personalized learning.  I decided to take my final project and split it up into a series of blog posts.

 

I constantly hear that this a time of change, and there is a great opportunity to change the way we are doing things in education.

 

I encourage you to browse and skim through the all of the Flexible Learning Pathways posts to see what steps that  you are already taking or could take to:

 

1. Integrate flexible informal and formal learning opportunities.

 

2. Consider “how” you are measuring learning – competencies and open badges?

 

3. Give equal voice to industry, community associations, higher education and k12 institutions for all learners within your learning environments

 

4. Promote collaboration and flexibility as the key skills modeled by all stakeholders and developed by all learners

5. Create a common currency and meaning around the word: “learning”

 

6. Share what you are doing with others to break down “silos” of innovation

 

What are you doing? How can I collaborate with you? What can I do to support you?

 

Please comment on the blog posts – or contact me directly verenanz at gmail.com