Back in 2009, I posted a simple analysis of learning technologies based on Diana Laurillard’s conversational framework. This became the second most popular posting ever on this blog, so I thought I'd give it a further look.
I was particularly taken by Diana’s five media forms (the descriptions are mine):
- Narrative media: explain, demonstrate, describe
- Interactive media: facilitate reflection, check understanding, encourage exploration, provide feedback
- Communicative media: allow exchanges between learners and between learners and tutors / subject experts
- Adaptive media: facilitate experimentation and practice
- Productive media: allow learners to articulate, express, demonstrate understanding
Media form | Example learning technologies | The role of content |
Narrative media | Online videos, online articles and papers, podcasts, software demos, infographics | Content is an input to the learning process |
Interactive media | Scenarios, quizzes, simple games, click-through e-learning | Content is an input to the learning process |
Communicative media | Social networks, forums, virtual classrooms, online meetings and discussions, webinars, email / messaging | Content is an output from the learning process |
Adaptive media | Simulations, AR/VR, intelligent tutorials, strategic games, intelligently curated content, adaptive learning pathways | Content is an input to the learning process |
Productive media | Wikis, blogs, spreadsheets, apps for editing text, video, audio and slideshows | Content is an output from the learning process |
On re-visiting this analysis, I’m still not sure yet whether these categories move things along. Are some media forms more valuable than others? Are they situational? Should they be used in sequence or in combination? There's plenty of room to take this thinking further.
I think some media forms may be more valuable for certain people, but the best bet would be to use them in sequences or combinations as mentioned.
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