Monday, November 5, 2018

Technology-Enhanced Learning at ANU

Greetings from the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra where TELFest just started. This is a one day event on Technology-Enhanced Learning at ANU. First on the program is Alexandra Webb, from the ANU Medical School, who described her early work using laser-disks for teaching doctors in the 1990s.

Professor Webb then pointed out that education research showed that practice tests are the most effective learning technique. She used the term "science of learning" which I am a little uncomfortable with. In formal terms education comes within Social Science and formal research techniques are used. However, this is not like a hard science, such as physics, and we have a lot to learn.


Professor Webb pointed out that students prefer blended learning to just replacing face-to-face with an online tool. This is a well known effect. She than asked the audience if feedback from students had changed their teaching. I was one of the few who said "no": I have been formally trained in education so I don't have to make it up as I go along.

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