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Learning activity types#

See also: learning

Laurillard (2012)#

Identifies the following collection of learning activities (with examples) as covering her Conversational Framework, support common theories of learning, and are commonly found throughout education.

Learning through Conventional technology Digital technology
Acquisition Reading books, papers; Listening to teacher presentations face-to-face, lectures; Watching demonstrations, master classes. Reading multimedia, websites, digital documents and resources; Listening to podcasts, webcasts; Watching animations, videos.
Inquiry Using text-based study guides; Analyzing the ideas and information in a range of materials and resources; Using conventional methods to collect and analyze data; Comparing texts, searching and evaluating information and ideas. Using online advice and guidance; Analyzing the ideas and information in a range of digital resources; Using digital tools to collect and analyze data; Comparing digital texts, using digital tools for searching and evaluating information and ideas.
Practice Practicing exercises; doing practice-based projects, labs, field trips, face-to-face role-play activities. Using models, simulations, microworlds, virtual labs and field trips, online role-play activities.
Production Producing articulations using statements, essays, reports, accounts, designs, performances, artifacts, animations, models, videos. Producing and storing digital documents, representations of designs, performances, artifacts, animations, models, resources, slideshows, photos, videos, blogs, e-portfolios.
Discussion Tutorials, seminars, email discussions, discussion groups, online discussion forums, class discussions, blog comments. Online tutorials, seminars, email discussions, discussion groups, discussion forums, web-conferencing tools, synchronous and asynchronous.
Collaboration Small group project, discussing others' outputs, building joint output. Small group project, using online forums, wikis, chat rooms, etc. for discussing others' outputs, building a joint digital output.

The design elements she identifies from the conversational framework include:

  • Access to the teacher’s concepts
  • The means to articulate their concepts and reflections on practice
  • Extrinsic feedback on questions or articulations of their concepts
  • A practice environment that facilitates their actions
  • Extrinsic feedback on their articulations of their actions
  • A modeling environment that elicits their actions
  • Intrinsic feedback on their actions from the model
  • Access to peers' concepts
  • The means to articulate their concepts and reflections on practice
  • Extrinsic feedback from peers on articulations of their concepts
  • Sharing practice outputs with peers
  • Access to peers' outputs as a model for their practice

References#

Laurillard, D. (2012). Teaching as a Design Science: Building Pedagogical Patterns for Learning and Technology. Routledge.