Online Learning & Independent Learning

Online Education is a melting pot for educators
According to Wisegeek (2012), online learning will rapidly become one of the most cost-effective ways to educate the world’s expanding workforce.Online education is an approach to teaching and learning that utilizes Internet technologies to communicate and collaborate in an educational context (wisegeek, 2012).  This includes technology that supply traditional classroom training with web-based components and learning environments where the educational process is experienced online (wisegeek, 2012).Course work is conducted through electronic forums, discussion groups, external resources, quizzes, social rooms, and online submitted assignments (wisegeek, 2012). Learning activities also include small group work and project work and throughout the course you have the guidance of one of our professional online tutors (wisegeek, 2012).

Dlccc.files.wordpress (2007)

31-03-2012
Why do students like online learning?
If there are geographical, transportation issues students are unable to attend to the classes on time. But from this online learning students are happy that they can avoid the issues for their studies. From this there are many benefits for a student to achieve in the life as follows.

• Students can attend the program/class anytime from any location. Even the student is not well the parents/ friend can attend to the class with a internet access.
• Enables student centered teaching approaches. Student can use any method for learning by doing something.
• Course materials are accessible in 24/7. Students can have a look for those and can conduct discussions too.

Scciowa (2012)

• Online instructors come with practical knowledge and may be from any location across the globe. This allows students to be exposed to knowledge that can't be learned in books and see how class concepts are applied in real business situations.
• Because online institutions often offer "chat rooms" for informal conversation between students, where student bios and non class discussions can take place, there appears to be a increased bonding over traditional class environments.
• The online environment makes instructors more approachable. Students can talk openly with their teachers through online chats, email and in newsgroup discussions, without waiting for office hours that may not be convenient. This option for communication provides enhanced contact between instructors and students.

Node (2012)

According to Slideshare (2012), Naline Abeyasekara has pointed out that, Open Universty Sri Lanka has introduced 1 fullly online course from engneering and science, Now there are 3289 students learning online this course in sri lanka. Students can access to the course materials from National Online Distance Eduation Access Centers which is shown in the map in the right side.

While reading this post everybody can get a fun by watching this video on the online learning.
                       PearsonFdtn (2012)
01-04-2012
Online Learning Set for Explosive Growth as Traditional Classrooms Decline

According to Campustechnology (2011), Nagel has expressed that;By 2015, 25 million post-secondary students in the US will be taking classes online. And as that happens, the number of students who take classes fully on physical campuses will drop, from 14.4 million in 2010 to just 4.1 million five years later.

More than six million college and university students took at least one online course during the fall 2010 term, an increase of 560,000 students over the previous year.  This almost 10% growth rate for online enrollments far exceeds the less-than-1% growth in the overall higher education student population nationwide. 

Independent Learning

Newsomehigh.kirklees (2012)

This is referred as self-directed learning (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010). This involves students taking initiative in recognizing learning requirements to meet them. This is a form of education offered by high schools, colleges, other educational institutions around the world (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010). A  course of study that a student does according to a plan a course of study in cooperation with a willing tutor or instructor (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010).


Why independent learning?

• In the changing world people need to learn new things to do. 
• Universities use this method mostly than teaching the students.
•  IT strategies encourage students to learn actively                     (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010)

Nature of Independent learning

• Students take more responsibility for their learning. 
• Students need to approach work in the questioning manner.            (Highlandschools-virtualib, 2010)

Library.bishopluffa (2012)

Characteristics of independent learners 

1. Curiosity - Independent learners want to find out more advanced things about the world. They seek out, ways to explore. They learn from various formats and technologies in the modern world.
2. Self-motivation - Forget bribery. Independent learners are motivated by setting the own internal goals to achieve. They are driven by the own personal achievements.
3. Self-examination - Independent learners know how to evaluate themselves. They can see their strengths and weaknesses. 
4. Accountability - Responsibility means knowing what you have to do and doing it without anyone telling you to. 
5. Critical thinking - Independent learners think critically of a situation. 
6. Comprehension with little  - Independent learners have ability to read, visualize themselves. 
7. Persistence - Independent learners don't give up. 

(Aoacademy, 2012)

How can teachers promote independent learning in classrooms? 
According to ilearn.20m (2012), there are many ways that learner training can be merge into regular classroom activities in order to promote more independence in learners .

1.  Give choices
Giving students standard chance to make choices will encourage them to reveal on their own interests and preferences.  It will also make them start to take responsibility for learning. 

2.  Encourage group work
Group work is helpful to provides learners with an opportunity to learn from each other in an active.

3.  Encourage learners to forecast how well they did on tests
Before teachers return a test paper to their students, they could encourage the students to consider how well they did. This will start them mirroring about their strengths and weaknesses and the progress they are making. 

4.  Set some learning goals
The students may have never had the opportunity to set learning goals. Initially setting learning goals will require a lot of help from teachers

5.  Use valid texts
Authentic texts are materials which were not originally designed for learning purposes.  They might include newspaper or magazine articles, TV, radio recordings and so on. 

6. Involve learners in lesson planning
Teachers could invite their students to help plan the lesson from time to time. This will ensure that the lesson is interesting and relevant for them.                                                                                 (ilearn.20m, 2012)

Muhsd.k12.ca(2012)

According to authors experience the independent learning is is possible to increase graduation as well as passing rate of the exams of the universities and institutions. So that in the independent learning student are able to do  the research while following the lectures and refresh the mind by adding additional knowledge. This helps mainly for the students to be bright in some fields. The independent learning is always funny and here pupils can do the own way of practices for the studies to gain better grades. When i met a graduate in an university he said he only did the independent studies to pass the exams well and now he is proud of that.. 

3.bp.blogspot (2011)

Listening

"Listening is a magnetic and strange thing"
According to Englishclub (2012), Listening is a form of communication where you are receiving language through the ears. This involves identifying sounds of speech and processing them into words (Bbc.co, 2012).

Listen For “Cue Words”  

1. For examples: for instance, to illustrate
2. For organization or chronological order: To say the steps  use next, finally first,  secondly, third like wise can use 
3. For additional points: Furthermore, in addition, also, moreover
4. For opposing ideas: On the other hand, in contrast, although, however
5. For similar ideas: Likewise, similarly, in comparison 
6. For exceptions: However, nevertheless, but, yet, still  
7. For emphasis:  Above all, finally, more importantly
8. For understanding: In other words, in essence, briefly 
9. For summarizing:  In conclusion, to sum up, for these reasons, in a nutshell 
10. For exams:  Remember this, this is important, this could be on the test  

istudy.psu (2012)             

Can you become an active Listener ????   

Faculty.londondeanery.ac (2012)

Active listening represents the response to what is being said by someone. Eye contact, nodding,  facial expressions are some of the qualities of a active listener. These are explained in the above figure.

• Sit front and center in class.
• Answer the questions which are asked by the instructor of the lecture and ask questions from the lecturer to clarify the topic.
• Get enough sleep and don’t come to class with hunger.
• Participate in class discussions and activities.
• Pay attention for the most important point while the lecturer speaking and write down by making special.
• Read the note prior to the lecture.
• Provide feedback to the lecturer using appropriate communication method.
• Forget all the ungraceful things before attending the lectures. 

(Canyons, 2012)

        28-03-2012
                            Debate

Islamchannel (2012)

Actually, this lecturer was about the Debate based on  the topic "Teachers ruins student's 
creativity".The positive and a-pausing team as well as judge board and the lecturers; Ms Maneisha and Mr. 
Rehan were there to help the debate. 

Teachers Ruin Creativity of Students

        Usen, Mudha, Dilshan and  Suvin were in  this team and they proved that teachers ruin creativity of students. In order to encourage creativity, teacher must re-formalize the theory behind educational instruction. More open ended questions, varied student responses should be encouraged and explicit skills should be taught. Creativity should not ruin basic motivation by restricting certain types of processes.The truth is creativity needs to be developed. How can you as a teacher nurture creativity in your students? One of the ways to encourage student creativity is through  understand what motivates your students. What do they enjoy learning? like wise. The teachers try to understand what are the areas that the students best in and how to get the talents out while teaching the books (theory). So its very important Teachers ruins student's creativity". 2+2=4 is also taught by the teachers for the students.

Images.learningresources (2012)

29-03-2012

Teachers don't ruin  creativity of students

         Chalitha, Susima, Harini and Sideek  were in  this team and they proved that teachers don't ruin creativity of students. One of the most the consistent findings in educational studies of creativity has been that teachers dislike student personality associated with creativity. Described creative people as not having the time to be courteous, as refusing to take no for an answer, and as being negativity and critical of others. As a result, schooling has a negative effect on creativity. My experience as a student is consistent with the idea that teachers don’t like creative students but I do not to blame the teachers saying that they are not courage to find the creativity of students. But its true to show this in this situation. It can be hard for teachers to deal with creative students in a classroom setting where they must guide.

According to Author, in my school life teachers didn't even helped to get out the hidden creativity of mine.
They tried to hide to the little outed talents as well as the creativity. But by using my courage and 
determination i tried to improve my creativity and participated to many competitions and achieved first, 
second places as well as internal level prizes, certificates. So i am proud of my own creativity 
nowadays.When i achieved success they were surprising. 


29-03-2012
Brain.exe Test
Authors Brain.exe test is representing the middle concept as follows. 

Authors work (2012)

Authors work (2012)

Authors work (2012)

Learning never exhausts the mind

Learning 
According to missiontolearn.(2011), Jeff Cobb has said that learning is "the lifelong process of transforming information and experience into knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes". 

Community-learning (2012)

Learn is to acquire knowledge or skills which is vary from person to person. 

1. Children    - Identify objects at an early age 
2. Teenagers -  Improve study habits
3. Adults       -  Solve complex problems

Learning strategies are different  in relation to the individual's way of thinking,feeling and the experience of a human-being. 


Characteristics of Learning
As a result of experience learning is modifying. Therefore the characteristics should be carefully used.This process can be quite complex because the influence of individual learn is unequal. 
To be effective in learning the characteristics require are;

•  purposeful 
•  result of experience
•  multifaceted 
• active process

Inventors-trunk (2012)

Learning Styles
Main concept of this is that it's improving the student success. It is concerned with student preferences and orientation at several levels based on the  students personality, social interaction. The learning pyramid is representing how students use the leaning styles in the studies. 

Stephenslighthouse (2012)

Profilingforsuccess (2006)

The diagram in the right side explains the theory of learning styles, represents that learning should be maximised when the preferences match learning experiences. Understanding the learning styles therefore helps to:

• recognise the ‘style’ of different learning situations
• maximise learning according to preferred style matches the learning environment
• recognise learning environments that may find difficult
• develop strategies to help deal with difficult learning environments
• shape the personal learning environments and strategies to make learning most effective.

Seven approaches to learning

These are the main seven approaches to leaning for anybody.

1. Learning can be an adventure
2. use many senses
3. Identify what attracts 
4. Use active learning 
5. Take responsibility for own learning
6. Trust in your own intelligence
7. Recognize own learning preferences

Learning is difficult when a person is stressed / bored. So lecturers as well the books use the method make people interesting. As a degree student the  author and other friends should find a way to make learning enjoyable. So its known as Learning can be an adventure.

Human-beings use senses to perform different types of things, specially using several senses gives the brain more connections and make easier to find the detailed information later. As there are different techniques followed by lecturer according to the theories are using more senses.

If people keep desirable outcomes in mind its easier to learn. But writing essays, meeting deadlines, studying for exams are less smart for some students. But these are attractive to the for the author as, author had faced to many competitions Island wide and International wide. So its bringing satisfaction to the author. But those who not should find the ways how to attract things.

- According to my voice i enjoy writing essays, finishing work according to deadlines etc and completing the degree in 2014 (expect). These authors imaginations will catch achievements in the life.

This is an important concept to follow by the books as if there are active engagement in the topic students are active for learning that. This is know as active learning.

People should get full responsibility to the spelling and grammar in the universities as there is no time to correct those thing. As a university student need to pay more attention on this than college years. To this ensure that student is ready to face this challenge. This is take responsibility for own learning.

Students think that they are not intelligent in this particular model in the program which was done in the school previously and worry about that. But some are more intelligent than the school days; it is the ability of a student. 

- Author was not very talented in Maths in school before the O/L. But practiced the same sum over and over and faced that challenge bravely i O/L. Authors parents got afraid of this weakness. But author should the excellent in the O/L by achieving a "A" pass. And also in Foundation in APIIT author well did Maths well using the intelligence. So now author is brave in Maths as author can use the intelligence. 

Each and every person use the individual ways to learn different things. Some are visual, auditory and kinaesthetic where theorists divide the person to a type. 

Being aware of the learning of own is the positive of the learning for people in the world.

26-03-2012
What's your learning style? 


There are many good learning lessons which is focusing the  learning styles and teaching methods.

1.bp.blogspot (2012)

Visual Learning

In this learners like to give demonstrations for teachers, take detailed notes, to have developed imaginations. A good visual learning lesson includes the following;

• Instruction — use of a video clip, diagram, images
• Assignments — mind-mapping of concepts, diagramming, construction of PowerPoint presentations, readings
• References — reference materials like maps, diagrams, pictures, articles
• Communication — use of electronic white board, electronic conferencing
• Testing — identification on diagrams, required drawings

Synapseadaptive (2012)

Auditory Learning

A good  auditory  learning lesson includes the following;

• Instruction — lecture, audio clips
• Assignments — projects with audio components, interviews
• References — video or audio clips from a media collection
• Communication— audio conferencing

Kinesthetic-Tactile

These learners do the best when active in work, have high energy levels, like to do work rather than listening. A good lesson for kinesthetic-tactile learners includes the following;

• Instruction — advance organizer, in class exercises, asking for volunteer participation in class demonstrations 
• Assignments — self-assessment quizzes, model building, presentations
• References — virtual field trips
• Communication — group work

Barriers to Learning 

There are many barriers to educational progress affecting to students. Some difficulties are health related, while other problems can arise in the student's environment. Many of these problems can be solved or ameliorated with teacher awareness and action, focused curriculum, parental involvement or community support.

Playfulwisdom (2012)

The following charts show the barriers for learning.

Irlt.yorku (2012)

Bloom's Taxonomy Model

Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning 
Bloom’s Taxonomy is not a part of Charlotte Mason but it is a very helpful tool for anyone who teaches and learning. All teachers I know are taught about Bloom’s Taxonomy but very few of them actually get to use that knowledge in their classrooms.

Oaks.nvg (2012)

What Is Bloom’s Taxonomy & How Do You Use It?

These lower levels are important but they are only the building blocks for true higher level learning. 

Bloom's Taxonomy is used for undergraduate and graduate students. This is a technique used in the class room  f0r learning. Bloom's Taxonomy was created to identify the level of understanding or learning of the students. Benjamin Bloom in 1956 has identified three domains of educational activities such as;

• Cognitive: mental skills (Knowledge)
• Affective: growth in feelings or emotional areas (Attitude)
• Psychomotor: manual or physical skills (Skills).       

(Nwlink , 2010)

There are 3 domains or types of taxonomy that Bloom created each for a special purpose. Each of these domains are demonstrates from bottom to top. 

1. Cognitive :

The most-used of the domains, refers to knowledge structures. It can be viewed as a sequence of progressive contextualization of the material. This includes the recall of specific facts and concepts that serve in development of intellectual skills. There are six major categories which is starting as simple and end as complex.

Learningandteaching (2012)

Redwoods (2012)

Level 1 - Knowledge: Includes definitions, terms, categories of  information.

Level 2 - Comprehension: Includes interpretation, putting ideas in one's own words.

Level 3 - Application: Involves using knowledge to solve problems when no directions.

Level 4 - Analysis: Inolves the ability to outline major points by breaking them to simple.

Level 5 - Synthesis: Involves putting together the parts to form something that is new.

Level 6 - Evaluation: Involves the ability to make a judgment based on criteria.

2. Affective:

The Affective domain has received less attention, and is less intuitive than the Cognitive. It is concerned with values. Thus in the Cognitive domain, training for technicians may cover knowledge, comprehension and application, but not concern itself with analysis and above, whereas full professional training may be expected to include this and synthesis and evaluation as well. 

Learningandteaching (2012)

   3. Psycho-Motor:
Bloom never completed work on this domain, and there have been several attempts to complete it. One of the simplest versions has been suggested by Dave in  (1975), fits with the model of developing skill.
Includes physical movement, coordination, and use of the motor-skill areas. Development of these skills requires practice and is measured in terms of speed, precision, distance, procedures, or techniques in execution. 

Learningandteaching (2012)

Further details of Bloom's Taxonomy please refer the link : http://www.businessballs.com/bloomstaxonomyoflearningdomains.htm

Terminology Changes
Changes in terminology between the two versions are perhaps the most obvious differences and can also cause the most confusion. Basically, Bloom's six major categories were changed from noun to verb. Additionally, the lowest level of the original, knowledge was renamed and became remembering (Online fiu , 2012). Finally, comprehension and synthesis were re titled to understanding and evaluating (Online fiu , 2012).

Odu (2012)

Odu (2012)

Remembering: can the student recall or remember the information?	define, duplicate, list, memorize, recall, repeat, reproduce state
Understanding: can the student explain ideas or concepts?	classify, describe, discuss, explain, identify, locate, recognize, report, select, translate, paraphrase
Applying: can the student use the information in a new way?	choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, operate, schedule, sketch, solve, use, write.
Analyzing:  can the student distinguish between the different parts?	appraise, compare, contrast, criticize, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, question, test.
Evaluating: can the student justify a stand or decision?	appraise, argue, defend, judge, select, support, value, evaluate
Creating: can the student create new product or point of view?	assemble, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, write.

Doingmediastudies (2012)

The above pyramid illustrates that the examples for the new version of the Bloom's Taxonomy Model. It’s a derivation from Bloom’s Taxonomy, which I guess every teacher has come across if they have done a teaching qualification. Here it’s stuck in understanding, but it’s also a great tool for evaluating. Seen as a platform to publish not read, it could also be creative; it could be used in an exercise to synthesis a great deal of information. Last seems most suited to remembering, and delicious could just as easily move up the pyramid as a site of analysis around the way we organize personal data through tags, or to demonstrate a student’s understanding (Doingmediastudies , 2012).

How to apply the Bloom's Taxonomy Theory to the students????

The most lowest level is the knowledge. Most of the students in the world have the knowledge which is available in the book.So that the 40% is getting by the students as a pass. This shows that students know only the things which is taught by the teachers at school or university. As an example if somebody ask that what is the answer for 2+2; the student will say it's 4. That is the knowledge that he/she has in own memory which was taught by the teacher.

The Recall level is known as Application. Students have this about 10%.This means as an example if there are 5 products and 20/- per product the total price is 100/-. To calculate this an application has been used.

The middle of this model is Comprehension. It is defined as Understand. The ability to choose the best application or method in order  to perform a task is know as Comprehension. This is again 10%.This is proved by the example which was used in Recall. There the multiplication has used to get the final answer. Today most of the students do not have this ability to choose the correct method for anything especially for Maths (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry etc). 

The next is Analysis.This shows that breaking the problems into smaller parts and start doing it step by step. This also carries 10%. As an example if a person is sick and the doctor ask to bring a blood report, the patients goes to the laboratory and brings the report. To check the blood laboratory guise use a chemical and bring the blood to smaller components. 

The most important part is the Critical Evaluation. Currently most of the students do not have this quality. As an example geonson and geonson company in UK evaluated that in another 10 years there will be 25 million babies and it will increase rapidly. So that the company should have the effective and efficient goods for both parties mother and baby. The care products should be there in the market is critically evaluated both company. 

Author's ideas on Bloom's Taxonomy

Finally, the author's point of view is, Bloom's Taxonomy is a great model for the students who study in the universities as well as the schools. Even if the student has the concepts which is being discussed in  the class room is not enough in order to approach to a  highest grade. Because of this reason majority of the students score only 40 marks as a pass for the exams like school level O/L, A/L and university programs too. Thus they have time, intelligence, skills and resources but those are being not used to achieve a productive goal. So the author thinks that, when doing something everybody can use the correct application to perform a best job and also can use the suitable method to do it as discussed in above. Even these are there for a student the essential thing is the problem solving and analysis part. To this people can use their own  knowledge and at the end the evaluation should be creative to succeed the upper of the stairs in the below diagram.