Scandinavian Values in ODL- Can they be preserved?

Niels Henrik Helms, DEL

Hype Cycle

Leaving the Hype

• Nothing much changed! - Wrong!!• Schools will always be the same! - Wrong!• The teacher knows better! - Wrong!• The Scandinavian Approach is unique! - HMM,

Might be right!

Scenarios

Scenario 1 - We continue as always

• Economy• Form Vs. Competencies• Customer Demands…

Scenario 3 - “Global Campus”

• It happens!! • Currently, more than 350.000 unique students are enrolled in

fully online degree granting programs, generating $1.75 billion in tuition revenues for institutions in 2001/2002.

• The distance-learning market for fully online degree programs is growing at a rate of 40 percent annually

• The relationship between formal qualifications and competencies?

• BIG - is beautiful…

Scenario 2 - “Introvert e-learning”

• It happens right now!• An unholy alliance between students,

schoolmanagement and central authorities • Better (and Cheaper) -• Resources?? (Learning Objects)• The Learner (Learning Subjects)• Competence-Gap??

Scenario 4 Global-Flexible-Learning just for Me

• Transparency??• Static Learning Objects - Dynamic Knowledge and

Learning• Clearing of Competencies

A Bricolage of Reasons

• Enhancement of Human Resources• Criticism of educational institutions and their

failure to deliver what is required• No increase in public resources• New form of regulation (NPM)• More market orientated approach• Emphasis on standards and accountability

New Rules

• Speed• Access• ROI• Flexibility

Playing by the new Rules

• Speed• Access• ROI• Flexibility

• Slowness• Closed Institutions• Formal Qualifications• Rigidity

The Question of Change - A Metaphor

Our Life The Priest

Changes in the Educational Landscape

• Learning just in Case• Learning just in Time• Learning just for Me…

Growing Subjectivism!

• In the industrial society we tried to objectivise everything…

• Now we go the other way round - You have to be unique - You have to tell your own story…

Open Flexible Distance Learning

• Open?– A Question of Access - not a Social Issue

• Flexible - For Whom?– Learners – Providers– Companies

The Vital Questions are:

- Does the teacher-learner separation enhance the possibilities for the learner both to learn and to complete the course?

- Does the chosen technology enhance flexibility and collaborative learning?

- Are the learning processes designed in the best possible way in relation to the learner’s needs and potentials?

We need something

• We have the bricks• We need scaffolding - The DNA of learning• We need the cement - The processes of

learning

The Scandinavian Approach is unique -HMM!! Might be right

• Dialogue as a way to construct meaning and knowledge…

• Storytelling…• The metamorphosis of standards to

uniqueness

Nordic Pedagogy is a SAAB or a Danish Blue Cheese

ODL without Scandinavian Values is:

• Loading not learning -• Informations without knowledge creation• Digging the gap between the web-literates and

web-illiterates• Well - it’s hopeless

ODL with Scandinavian Values calls for:

• Openness to change• Developing core-business• Collaboration• Marketing

ReadyFireAim

StorytellingDialogueReflection