Introduction
I have been thinking about learning journeys this week, particularly my own. Perhaps it has been triggered by my colleagues in the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) at the University of Canberra who have introduced me to the retrospectroscope as an important part of a process of developing an ePortfolio.
I think it has been prompted too by my attempt to find an appropriate, invitational language to encourage interest and participation in the #UCSIA15 open online course that starts on 23 February and continues for four weeks.
These have led me to desire paths, stepping stones and tickets.
Desire Paths
The retrospectroscope took me back to my first post of 2014 that was prompted by a comment by Kate Bowles. She brought desire paths to my attention. Kate observes that the essence of a successful desire path
is that it represents shared decision-making between separate users who don’t formally cooperate. So a desire path is both a coherent expression of collective effort, and completely unplanned — in fact, it’s the opposite of planning. Simply, each one puts her or his foot where it feels most sensible, and the result is a useful informal path that’s sensitive to gradient, destination, weather, terrain, and built through unspoken collaboration among strangers.
I do think this is a great way to describe my hopes for #UCSIA15 … putting one’s feet “where it feels most sensible”. This seems a good approach to stepping stones.
Stepping Stones
Whilst exploring TRU Writer yesterday, I came across A. Cheesy-Writer’s post about DS106. I do think DS106 sets the standard for open courses and for the ways participants share their experiences of open learning.
I was very interested to learn about whether open courses present obstacles to participation or provide stepping stones.
We at DS106 however, choose to see challenges as stepping-stones – opportunities that we have encountered along the way for us to use, to “step on” so that we can achieve more, develop further and ultimately actualize more of our goals!
Along with my TLC colleagues Jennifer Smith and Georgina Barden, I have been wondering if part of the invitation to the stepping stones in #UCSIA15 might be tickets that indicate the choices participants have in the open course.
Tickets
It is quite difficult to avoid cliches when discussing sport. However, Jennifer, Georgina and I do think there is some merit in contemplating tickets for #UCSIA15.
We thought there might be at least four options:
General Admission for those who would like to be guided in the course
Self-directed learning
Participants who would like to pursue a specific interest
Those who would like to go beyond hello and who will support and facilitate other participants’ learning
We have the added bonus that if participants would like to change their tickets when they arrive at the course, we will have a globally connected staff of stewards to help in relocating aspirations and expectations.
All the tickets are the same price … free admission.
Photo Credits
In the Mendips (Matthew Benton, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
The parsnip field home (Steve, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Walking on Water (Will Bakker, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Excellent idea – I do like it!