People learn best when they are highly motivated and
eager to take responsibility for acquiring knowledge and skills effectively and
efficiently according to their personal characteristics, needs, goals and interests.
As well as when they are given the opportunity to enhance their learning and abilities
within flexible, meaningful, auspicious, safe friendly spaces and conditions;
through individual and collaborative processes that enable the learner to
interact, share and demonstrate their learning experiences.
The way in which learning will take place is through a
variety of strategies and methodologies to foster the learners´ commitment
throughout the course or project with flexible, easily accessible and
user-friendly environments, both physical and digital.
Either learning environments are linked and play a
similar role but have marked differences. In other words, both environments construct
an integrated learning experience for individuals by collaboration to create a
sense of community. On the other hand, the purposes of how information and
knowledge are transferred and facilitated differ between the physical and online
environments such as forums, online bulletin boards, tutoring, conferences and
workshops. For instance, a forum can take place at a specific location chosen
by the organization or outside such as an auditorium, museum or library. It
will be moderated by learners and regulated by their beliefs and norms. Participation will be substantial and with a
deeper understanding as knowledge and skills are expanded.
On an online bulletin board, learners decide whether
to go to the designated area within the organization or use their own devices.
The access will be open to the public, but participants must register so that
the organization can control what is posted. Appealing and genuine questions
will be asked by the instructor and learners will, in turn, be asked to answer those
questions qualitatively, thoughtfully and creatively through podcasts, videos, cartoon
strips, written texts, graphic organisers or PowerPoint presentations.
Therefore, the way they are complementing each other
will keep students engaged and challenged. Great opportunities will arise to develop
and extend one´s knowledge continuously.
In conclusion, my ideal learning environment would be
a community in which we all contribute and commit to finding better and more meaningful
ways to share knowledge; in which we are all visionaries who look for teaching
opportunities not only at school but elsewhere and use whatever you have at
hand to achieve success.
