perls: an innovative open source suite of teaching/learning tools informed by complexity science...
TRANSCRIPT
PerLS: An Innovative Open Source Suite of Teaching/Learning Tools Informed by
Complexity Science
Presented by Kari Kumar and Obadiah George
Presentation Outline
• Introduction to the PerLS Project
• Complexity, Education, & PerLS
• PerLS Development– Approach, current prototype, and future plans
• Student and Faculty Feedback
Introduction to the PerLS Project
• The Catalyst– Disconnect between teaching/learning goals,
traditional approaches, and technology
– How can we develop learning technologies towards better reaching our teaching/learning goals?
*individualized learning journey with
unpredictable learning moments
Complexity, Education, & PerLS
• Learning as a complex phenomenon– Arises from a complex set of interactions– Emergent– Learners are “transformed”– Non-linear and unpredictable
Image from http://www.astrolog.org/labyrnth/art.htm
Complexity, Education, & PerLS
• Complex systems– Open with fuzzy
borders– Self-organizing– Bottom-up
collectives– Far from
equilibrium self-organized
exchange
emergence
complex adaptivebehavior
feedback
Complexity, Education, & PerLS
• Complexity-informed Pedagogy: Doll’s 4 R’s
RRRReading, ‘Riting,
‘Rithmetic
RRRRRichness, Recursion,
Relations, Rigor
PerLS Development
• Iterate, iterate, iterate• Agile Requirements Modeling – – Get the big picture - Initial Requirements
Envisioning days – In response to the Big Picture - Initial Architectural
Envisioning days– Iteration modelling
PerLS Development
• Model Storming process– Analysis based on just in time detailed
requirements– Key questions …?, What does it look like when …?– Key activity – screen sketching, data flow
diagramming, functional walkthrough
PerLS Development
• Current Functionality based on core elements
– Complexity Theory– Repository creation,
search, resource selection
– Interaction surrounding resources, or collection of resources
PerLS Development
• Future developments include – Inclusion of more elegant UI design –
implementing more sophisticated user controls to improve the user experience
– Tighter integration with Moodle platform
Preliminary Feedback
• Students – Generally favourable– Navigational refinements, UI intuitive design
(small learning curve)– Content quality – may require additional policy– Students need to have clear rationale for why
PerLS is being used – what does it offer over other approaches
– Key point- first time use is actually a very small percentage of the time• Students will persevere if the benefits are clear
Preliminary Feedback
• Faculty– Interest across participating faculties at York U
– Much interest from the Faculty of Health
• E.g., PerLS will support an online RN to MScN program • E.g., Additional faculty from outside the PerLS team
wish to use tools in Fall 2013
– Fall workshop is planned to build a trans-disciplinary resource repository on social justice
• Funding for the PerLS project
• The entire PerLS team – Gail Mitchell, Nadine Cross, Ron Owston, Michaela Hynie, Renata Wickens, Don SinClair, Obadiah George
Acknowledgements
References
Davis, B., & Sumara, B. (2006). Complexity and education: Inquiries into learning, teaching, and research. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Doll, W. E. (1993). A post-modern perspective on curriculum. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Doll, W. E. (2012). Complexity and the culture of curriculum. Complicity: An International Journal of Complexity and Education, 9(1), 10-29.
Mennin, S. (2010). Self-organisation, integration and curriculum in the complex world of medical education. Medical Education, 44(1), 20-30.