LearningTimes Green Room

In this episode of the LearningTimes Green Room, Susan Manning and Dan Balzer review the anatomy of an incredibly lively online discussion. They welcome LearningTimes.org member Katherine Grocott of Australia into the Green Room to share the fascinating backstory behind a discussion she initiated on "Theological Education" several months ago, and find out where it has led her and so many members of the LearningTimes community worldwide.

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Show Notes:
Commenting on exciting developments in LT community. This is based on a post within “Theological Education” first posted in March by Katherine Grocott, Registrar at Tabor Bible College. In short, she asked what she needed to know if her institution were considering online learning program.

More than 140 replies, very global. Good example of connectivism, of people pointing her toward resources, information or people to help her solve the problem.

Dan identified 3 categories of responses

1. Those that directed her to a tool or person
2. Those offering services
3. Those that offered a paragraph or two addressing conceptual issues

Kat read and responded to almost every post, usually with a follow-up question. This kept opening the door for more and gave us an opportunity to see her understanding blossom.

A couple of our favorite themes:

• Teaching, learning and questioning.
• How environments need to be safe, empowering, communal and organized.
• Posts from a theological perspective, unique contexts and connections
• Didn’t shy away from tricky issues like faculty compensation, copyright, stakeholders, and so on

And now the interview …

Kat reflects on how surprised she was at how willing respondents were to share information.

What prompted her to post the first question? The question was part of a class assignment (participation in an online community), but also addressed the Tabor College need. LearningTimes was the community she selected.

Next step in learning? To do analysis of all that will impact online learning at Tabor and then to design a plan, a “root” for Tabor.

If she hadn’t had the LearningTimes community … we agreed it would not have been as rich a learning process as the discussion has been. Fresh and relevant!

Dan and Susan thank Katherine for her transparency and authenticity. Closing comments about the value of the LearningTimes community.

Continue the discussion. Talk to us in LearningTimes! We facilitate discussion in LearningTimes.org or call us at 1-800-609-9006 x8055 (US and Canada) or 678-255-2174 x8055 (outside US and Canada). Or comment at http://home.learningtimes.net/learningtimes.

In this inaugural episode of the LearningTimes Green Room, Susan Manning, Dan Balzer and Jonathan Finkelstein discuss the importance of pauses, reflections and time away from the computer in fostering meaningful learning experiences.

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Show Notes:
Inaugural podcast with Susan Manning, Dan Balzer and special guest Jonathan Finkelstein.

The hosts first explain the name of this podcast and the conceptual thinking of the Green Room. The Green Room is a place where people prepare to go on stage, the informality of what happens before you go into the spotlight. So much of what makes educators and trainers is the work that happens behind the scenes. We want to give listeners (and ourselves) an opportunity to reflect on what they’re doing behind the scene that results in an effective learning experience.

Our invitation to join our team, pull up a chair to our kitchen table and tell us what you’d like to talk about!

Looking at reflection and its importance on learning. Being able to think and draw connections.

Jonathan, Dan and Susan share what they did recently to step back and refuel. Jonathan went to Ireland. Dan went to the Wisconsin Dells for 3 days of water slides. Susan went kayaking and had a bald eagle swoop overhead.

We all need a few green moments without a computer. What’s the role of these pregnant pauses that allow us to produce effectively?

Do blogs and eportfolios support the idea of learner reflection? Beyond having a task to complete, reflection takes discipline and good teachers build this into their practice by providing structure (guidelines) and opportunity.

Invite learners away from computer to accomplish tasks that take them back into their communities.

Dan suggests that what we do behind stage, how we think about what we’re going to do when we move into the limelight, is to facilitate the ability of our learners to reflect.

What do we want from our listeners? What should they reflect on (and tell us about):

• What our listeners did this summer
• What non-tech things still give thrills and can be tied into the learning experience
• In what ways do you structure experiences for your students so they are reflecting?

Talk to us in LearningTimes! We facilitate discussion in LearningTimes.org or call us at 1-800-609-9006, extension 8055. Or comment at http://home.learningtimes.net/learningtimes.

Stay tuned for the launch of the LT Green Room — a podcast for Renewal, Retooling and Conversations about Learning. It is co-hosted by Susan Manning and Dan Balzer and its show topics are drawn from members and online activities at LearningTimes.org, a free online community of education and training professionals from across the globe.