The Future Of Learning Is Informal The Future Of Learning Is Informal And Mobile: A Video Interview With And Mobile: A Video Interview With

Teemu ArinaTeemu Arina

ByByFabiola Espinosa LópezFabiola Espinosa López

Curso:Curso:

““Herramientas Digitales en Línea para la Enseñanza”Herramientas Digitales en Línea para la Enseñanza”

Agosto 29th 2010Agosto 29th 2010

Teemu Arina is Teemu Arina is a young a young Finnish educational Finnish educational

scholar who works with scholar who works with social software* mainly in social software* mainly in the consultation side and the consultation side and was interviewed about was interviewed about the future of learning the future of learning

concerning to the use of concerning to the use of technology.technology.

* Social software encompasses a range of software systems that allow * Social software encompasses a range of software systems that allow users to interact and share data (facebook, MySpace and Bebo)users to interact and share data (facebook, MySpace and Bebo)

For Arina the terms For Arina the terms informal learning informal learning andand mobile learning mobile learning are terms are terms which will come to have in the which will come to have in the near future. For him, the first one near future. For him, the first one has to do with something that is has to do with something that is more social, more student – more social, more student – driven and not teacher – driven; driven and not teacher – driven; in other words, “in other words, “Life is learning”Life is learning”. . It’s just about building an It’s just about building an environment that supports environment that supports informal interaction. informal interaction.

For example, he sees blogs as tools For example, he sees blogs as tools that support reflective practice. that support reflective practice. Sites like them allow people to do Sites like them allow people to do something, stop and reflect in something, stop and reflect in order to learn something. Through order to learn something. Through collective reflections, it is possible collective reflections, it is possible to build new knowledge, new to build new knowledge, new ideas and understand what to do ideas and understand what to do next.next.

The second term is related to the idea of being The second term is related to the idea of being connected virtually from different physical connected virtually from different physical spaces in which informal learning takes spaces in which informal learning takes place. He thinks that being mobile means place. He thinks that being mobile means that the context is around you; then, that the context is around you; then, mobile learningmobile learning enables people to utilize the enables people to utilize the context in a better way. When mobile context in a better way. When mobile technologies, social technologies and technologies, social technologies and physical spaces intersect very well is what physical spaces intersect very well is what true learning is all about. true learning is all about.

The right use of technology also promotes The right use of technology also promotes social interaction and creates a “third social interaction and creates a “third place”, as he calls it that permits you to place”, as he calls it that permits you to share different conversations. But the most share different conversations. But the most important here is the important here is the connectivismconnectivism which which emphasizes the connections more than the emphasizes the connections more than the content that goes through the connection content that goes through the connection and how this impacts learning.and how this impacts learning.

In conclusion, he proposes “we should be more In conclusion, he proposes “we should be more proactive than reactive about learning and proactive than reactive about learning and knowledge”knowledge”

I think Arina’s vision is very positive and progressive. I like the way he I think Arina’s vision is very positive and progressive. I like the way he conceives technology as the mean of learning and expanding yourself conceives technology as the mean of learning and expanding yourself socially. However, although I agree on there are some people in schools socially. However, although I agree on there are some people in schools who don’t really want to be there, it is not necessary they “leave school” in who don’t really want to be there, it is not necessary they “leave school” in order to get what they want. I think, there is more than that in this aspect. order to get what they want. I think, there is more than that in this aspect. We, as teachers, can focus on doing learning meaningful for students by We, as teachers, can focus on doing learning meaningful for students by integrating relevant things from life into school, and of course, technology. integrating relevant things from life into school, and of course, technology. This way, we can offer a balance that really helps students to success in This way, we can offer a balance that really helps students to success in life.life.

I agree on you can learn every where and you can learn from everything if you I agree on you can learn every where and you can learn from everything if you reflect on that to create new knowledge. And, although I also think that reflect on that to create new knowledge. And, although I also think that computers can “get close to each other”, I consider that physical interaction computers can “get close to each other”, I consider that physical interaction cannot be substituted by “being connected by a machine”. cannot be substituted by “being connected by a machine”.

In general, I think everyday an uncountable number of options for learning and In general, I think everyday an uncountable number of options for learning and improving your professional and personal life are emerging. I think the best improving your professional and personal life are emerging. I think the best alternative could be to choose whatever option that helps you to achieve alternative could be to choose whatever option that helps you to achieve your objectives in life without forgetting that whatever we do, wherever we your objectives in life without forgetting that whatever we do, wherever we are, we are still humans.are, we are still humans.

Links and ReferencesLinks and References

http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2007/04/12/the_future_of_learning_is.htm#ixzz0xxIyURaQhttp://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2007/04/12/the_future_of_learning_is.htm#ixzz0xxIyURaQ

http://www.picsearch.com/index.cgi?cols=4&width=711&q=computer+people+learninghttp://www.picsearch.com/index.cgi?cols=4&width=711&q=computer+people+learning

http://www.picsearch.com/index.cgi?width=991&q=informal+learninghttp://www.picsearch.com/index.cgi?width=991&q=informal+learning

http://www.picsearch.com/index.cgi?width=991&q=mobile+learninghttp://www.picsearch.com/index.cgi?width=991&q=mobile+learning

http://www.picsearch.com/index.cgi?width=991&q=people+computershttp://www.picsearch.com/index.cgi?width=991&q=people+computers