LEARNING PATHS
PROVIDE SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING TRACKS
ERIN ANDERSON & TRAVIS THURSTON
APRIL 1, 2016

Online Learning Paths in Higher Education
A Self-Directed Learner Centered Online Course Delivery

photo by James Wheeler on Flickr
CONTACT US
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL



Erin Anderson
Travis Thurston
Sr. Instructional Designer
travis.thurston@usu.edu
@travesty328
Instructional Designer
erin.anderson@usu.edu
@ewander

- Undergraduate Breadth Arts Course
- Allow Choice in Topics to Study
- Provide Peer-Peer Interaction
- Flexible Grading
CONSIDERATIONS
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
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Current research shows self-directed learning optimizes the learning experience (Markant & Gurekis, 2013; 2012) and is more brain learning centered (Willis, 2008) and student centered (Barnes, 2013).
self-directed learning
brain learning centered
student centered
Willis, J. (2008) How Your Child Learns Best: Brain Friendly Strategies to Ignite Your Student's Learning and Increase School Success. Sourcebooks, Naperville, IL
Barnes, M (2013) ROLE Reversal: Achieving uncommonly excellent results in student centered classroom. ASCD, Alexandria, VA
Markant, D.B. and Gureckis, T.M. (2013, in press). Is it better to select or to receive? Learning via active and passive hypothesis testing. Journal of Experimental Psychology
Gureckis, T.M. and Markant, D.B. (2012). A cognitive and computational perspective on self-directed learning. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7, 464-481
RESEARCH
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#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

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#BLEND15 #KENNETHWARE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL
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#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

Radenski, A. (2009, July). Freedom of choice as a motivational factor for active learning. In ACM SIGCSE Bulletin (Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 21-25). ACM.


RESEARCH
Radenski's "Assisted Freedom of Choice"
@UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @DUNIKEN
#BLEND15 #KENNETHWARE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

Bonk, C.J., Miyoung Lee, M., Kou, X., Xu, S., & Feng-Ru S. (2015). Understanding the self-directed online learning preferences, goals, achievements, and challenges of MIT OpenCourse Ware Subscribers. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 18(2), 349-368.

research

Factors for Success
Obstacles or Challenges
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#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

Design Process
Q A
&
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DESIGN
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#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

Survey
KAHOOT.IT
Join Game at
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#BLEND15 #KENNETHWARE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

Survey
Which of the following is the most important factor when selecting a unit to complete?
UNIT 1
UNIT 2
UNIT 3
UNIT 4
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TOPIC OF INTEREST
Accessing Topics

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TOPIC OF INTEREST
Accessing Topics & Assignment Submissions

@UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @DUNIKEN
#BLEND15 #KENNETHWARE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

TOPIC OF INTEREST
Assignment Submissions

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#BLEND15 #KENNETHWARE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

TOPIC OF INTEREST

1037
PARTICPATIONS
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#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

Survey
How would you rate the level of engagement of the various course elements?
"SOMEWHAT ENGAGING"
Unit Selection
Course Videos
Discussion
Intro Module
54.6%
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@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

Survey
What are some of the challenges/barriers you have faced with completing the unit assignments?
1. Time Management/Procarastination
2. Assignment Difficulty/Length
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#BLEND15 #KENNETHWARE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

PROBLEMS
- High Enrollment
496 Students

8K
>20K
>20K
>20K
19K
@UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @DUNIKEN
#BLEND15 #KENNETHWARE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

PROBLEMS
- Assignment Submissions

@UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @DUNIKEN
#BLEND15 #KENNETHWARE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

PROBLEMS
1 TA per 100 students
12 Assignments per Module per Student
- Grading




























































1200
Think-Pair-Share

@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL

GROUP 1
Student Time Management
Due Dates
GROUP 2
Assignment Difficulty
Peer to Peer Interactions
GROUP 3
Content Engagement
Grading Issues
CONTACT US
@EMPOWERTEACHING @UTAHSTATECIDI @TRAVESTY328 @EWANDER
#SOTE16 #USUETE #LEARNINGPATHSTOOL



Erin Anderson
Travis Thurston
Sr. Instructional Designer
travis.thurston@usu.edu
@travesty328
Instructional Designer
erin.anderson@usu.edu
@ewander

Learning Paths - SoTE 2016
By Travis Thurston
Learning Paths - SoTE 2016
Exploring the USU developed Learning Paths tool as a self-directed, learner-centered, online course delivery option.
- 1,289