Category Archives: Open Learning

Structured approaches to offering learning beyond the constraints of a traditional university curriculum

Structure and memory-mapping in #activelearning

Posted on December 20, 2020 by Andrew Middleton

The idiom ‘from pillar to post’ both indicates the role of structure in a journey and, at the same time, cautions that substance, purpose and clarity are necessary to a fruitful experience. In the previous post, I discussed divergence and … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Learning, Co-operative pedagogy, Creativity, Learner Engagement, Learning Space and Place, Media-enhanced learning, Open Learning, Walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Wrecking it with Brexit

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Andrew Middleton

I’m sitting in a café on La Rambla in Barcelona following a couple of days participating in an international learning spaces summit in Barcelona (#ILS2019). (nb. I use ‘participating’ not ‘attending’) We are getting really close to Brexit now and … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Innovation, Active Learning, Belonging, Co-operative pedagogy, Employability, Gamification, Learner Engagement, Learning Space and Place, Open Learning, Scholarship and Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Being there – thinking about presence #socmedhe18 #mugafesto

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Andrew Middleton

First, and significantly, let me thank my colleagues and co-facilitators of #socmedhe18 which happened at Nottingham Trent University on Wednesday. I will reflect separately on the power of friend-based collaboration as a disruptive basis for creating a stimulating learning environment … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Innovation, Active Learning, Belonging, BYOD, Creativity, Digital Placemaking, Learner Engagement, Learning Space and Place, Media-enhanced learning, Open Learning, Polycontextuality, Scholarship and Research, Social Media for Learning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Lurking, Active Learning and Legitimate Peripheral Participation #socmedhe18

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Andrew Middleton

The first principle of active learning according to Bonwell & Eison (1991) is that it is more than passive listening. A rather negative note to start on perhaps, but we can see where they’re coming from. As we prepare, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Learning, Belonging, Literacies and Intelligence, Open Learning, Scholarship and Research, Smart Learning & BYOD, Social Media for Learning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where are you taking me? Thinking about the politics of network

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Andrew Middleton

The transcript of ‘Learning Networks, Not Teaching Machines’, a keynote delivered at EDEN 2015 in Barcelona by Audrey Watters in 2015, is a good read for anyone interested in networked learning, media-enhanced learning, and the use of social media for … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Innovation and Possibilities, Learning Space and Place, Media-enhanced learning, Open Learning, Social Media for Learning | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Invitation to the Revolution! Subversion! Collusion! #uogapt #vortexspace

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Andrew Middleton

On Tuesday we will invent a new world inspired by Vorticists and Dynamism. We will explore ‘Studio for All!’ by deconstructing what we know about learning spaces and reconstructing a connected hybrid learning space. Wherever you are I invite you … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Innovation and Possibilities, Digital Placemaking, Learning Space and Place, Open Learning, Social Media for Learning | Leave a comment

Come to the event formerly known as Prince – or #bleetchat

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Andrew Middleton

Apologies for the title – knowing what to call this post sums up much of what I want to capture here following one of those Twitter excursions where an indeterminate number (but including @digisim @DonnaLanclos @Lawrie @alexgspiers @JefferyKeefer) discussed our interest … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Innovation and Possibilities, Learning Space and Place, MELSIG, Open Learning | Leave a comment

Learning is not about enclosures

Posted on April 5, 2017 by Andrew Middleton

In tonight’s #LTHEchat on Learning Spaces (8pm-9pm UK at #LTHEchat) I argue that the richest learning space is that which is defined by the learner as they navigate across and between spaces. Learning comes from making connections: to people, ideas, and experiences. … Continue reading →

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