Tag Archives: online learning

How I found the Daily Create⤴

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Creative Bomb
Creative Bomb flickr photo by NomadWarMachine shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-SA 2.0) license

I found out about the Daily Create because I became part of an online community. As I’ve written before, in 2014 I signed up for an online experience organised by Dave Cormier called  Rhizomatic Learning – The community is the curriculum which I thought was going to be about Deleuze and Guattari, and even though it wasn’t I met a bunch of great people and am still collaborating with some of them in various ways a decade later. I was also introduced to CLMOOC and found many like-minded remixers and bricoleurs there.

As a result of meeting these people, and particularly thanks to my friend Ron Leunissen, I was introduced to #DS106 and the Daily Create. I dipped in and out of participation at first, only responding if a prompt really piqued my interest, but since November 22nd 2017 I have completed the daily challenge every day, without fail. I’ve also written about how important it is to me on a guest reclaim blog post, and I won’t repeat all I said there about the influence that this daily activity has had for me – but it’s a hugely important part of my daily life. Well, after 2894 days of participation it’s not surprising that it’s very much for me.

Reclaim your voice⤴

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Today’s TDC asks us to talk about creativity and openness.  Here’s my response.

One thing I really appreciate about the Daily Create is that, because it is in the open, I have added motivation to complete it.  Left to my own devices I would sacrifice my creative urges to the need to do admin, or one of the other multiple tasks that invade my head and push out my creative musings.

Small acts of creativity keep me going through the drudgery of paid work.

DS106

Listening AND doing⤴

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Image from Wikimedia
Recently I’ve been over-exposed to the picture above. I’ve been to a slew of talks and presentations where well-meaning people have used this picture on  slide and told me that lectures are outdated and all the best teachers nowadays engage their students in active learning. But, of course, it’s not as clear cut as that. In a paper that, in my opinion, is one of the most important pieces of writing about teaching and learning, Anna Sfard highlights the importance of not rejecting acquisition as a useful form of learning: On Two Metaphors for Learning and the Dangers of Choosing Just One. Recently there has been a tendency for educators to opt for participatory models of learning – often called ‘active learning’ . However, as Sfard says, it’s not the only way that people can learn and we should be careful of black and white dichotomies. A couple of months ago I participated in an #LTHEChat on Bluesky on the topic of Team Based Learning, and wrote a blog post as a result of a conversation I had during that chat – basically arguing against the idea that being a ‘guide on the side’ was better than being a ‘sage on the stage’.  You can read the whole blog post for yourself and admire the artwork that goes along with it 🙂

Listening AND doing⤴

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Recently I’ve been over-exposed to the picture above. I’ve been to a slew of talks and presentations where well-meaning people have used this picture on  slide and told me that lectures are outdated and all the best teachers nowadays engage their students in active learning. But, of course, it’s not as clear cut as that. In a paper that, in my opinion, is one of the most important pieces of writing about teaching and learning, Anna Sfard highlights the importance of not rejecting acquisition as a useful form of learning. However, as she also says, it’s not the only way that people can learn.

Image from Wikimedia

Open Education Remixers⤴

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This week, as part of Open Education Week 2025, I’m joining in with all of the remixes thanks to the wonderful Bryan Mathers and his remix machine and OEGlobal.

First a ‘hello‘ activity, to make a badge. I made two – one for me, and one for my faithful companion Lacey Cat.

Super-simple badge
Dalek cat badge

Then a Venn Diagram challenge – to pinpoint where I am at the intersection of Open and Education. No surprise that I say that for me that’s DS106.

Venn diagram

Next a ‘field notes‘ remix, to talk about what introduced me to OE. I focused on the connected learning experiences (cMOOCs) that allowed me to find many of the friends I now know online.

Field Notes

Day 4 has us on the psychiatrist’s couch, asking how OE makes us feel

Couch

The final day has us creating a ‘periodic table‘ for the elements of openness. How amazing is this? Of course, my element is number 106.

Element 106

Reflection on an ongoing collaboration⤴

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OEGlobal Postcard

“Postcards on Pedagogy” flickr photo by NomadWarMachine shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-SA) license

It’s a couple of weeks into the UW/UofG collaboration, and I thought I’d take a few minutes to reflect on my experiences so far.

It started out very low-key for me. Mum died on 10th October 2024 (I still can’t type that without having to pause to wipe my eyes). So when the collaboration ‘officially’ began at the beginning of November, I knew that my participation would be interrupted by my need to travel 470 miles south to attend her funeral in early November, and all of the emotional upheaval that would entail. But I thoroughly enjoyed meeting my group (Debs, Alka and Mary) over Zoom and coming up with an asynchronous activity for us all to add to before meeting again on the 18th. On my return from England, after pushing through the mountain of work that had accumulated in my absence, I enjoyed a brief hiatus that I allowed myself in which write. Sending a quick email to Debs, Alka and Mary on Tuesday evening (my time) resulted in three lovely replies in my inbox on Wed morning – that really gave me a boost, and I have found a little more time to plan my next contribution to the collaboration.

I also found time to catch up with a project initiated by Carole, who is sending out prompts asking people to respond with a digital postcard. Carole had sent a card around to the group with a picture of her typical classroom. I have had neither classrooms nor students for years now, so I responded with a postcard remix from the amazing Bryan Mather’s remixer. However, this did get me thinking about my own learning environment, and an idea for my next remix.

Both of these activities have helped me to reflect on what I was hoping to gain from this collaboration, and what I was enjoying. I think that one thing that I have realised from my online communities is to enter experiences like this without rigid expectations, but with high hopes. I hoped to meet good people, to have interesting conversations, to participate in ways that I had not anticipated, and without rigid rules (no facilitators telling me that I am doing it wrong).  And I always hope for the opportunity to play with remix.

Well, so far I’ve not been disappointed, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the month.

Purrfect Harmony: Finding Zen with Cats, Knitting, and Ukuleles⤴

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I’m in a webinar for a course I am doing, and there was a suggestion to ask GenAI for a possible blog topic. Here’s what it gave me for the prompt “please suggest a blog topic about cats, knitting and ukeleles“:

Introduction:

In a world bustling with activity, finding moments of peace and joy can be like discovering hidden treasures. For many, this tranquility comes in the form of beloved hobbies such as knitting and playing the ukulele, while the presence of furry feline friends adds an extra layer of comfort and companionship. Join us as we explore the delightful intersection of these seemingly disparate interests and how they contribute to a harmonious and fulfilling lifestyle.

The Serenity of Knitting:

Knitting has long been cherished for its meditative qualities, allowing practitioners to slow down, focus, and create something beautiful with their own hands. Explore the therapeutic benefits of knitting, from stress relief to increased mindfulness, and how the rhythmic motion of needles can soothe the soul.
Share knitting tips and patterns inspired by cats, incorporating adorable feline motifs into scarves, hats, and blankets. Whether it’s a paw print border or a silhouette of a playful kitten, these designs add an extra touch of charm to handmade creations.

Strumming to the Tune of Contentment:

The ukulele, with its cheerful melodies and compact size, is the perfect instrument for spreading joy and positivity. Discuss the rising popularity of the ukulele as a hobby and its accessibility to beginners of all ages.
Explore the calming effects of playing the ukulele alongside cats, as their purrs and gentle presence create a serene backdrop for musical exploration. Share beginner-friendly ukulele chords and songs with themes of coziness and companionship.

The Feline Factor:

Cats are renowned for their ability to bring comfort and warmth to any environment. Dive into the unique bond between cats and their human companions, from their playful antics to their soothing purrs.

Discover how cats add a special touch to knitting and ukulele sessions, whether they’re curling up beside you as you work on a project or providing impromptu musical accompaniment by batting at the strings of your ukulele.

Finding Balance and Joy:

In a fast-paced world, it’s important to carve out time for the things that bring us happiness and peace. Discuss the importance of incorporating hobbies like knitting, playing the ukulele, and spending time with cats into our daily routines as a form of self-care.
Share personal anecdotes and stories from fellow enthusiasts who have found solace and fulfillment in the harmonious blend of cats, knitting, and ukuleles. Celebrate the joy that these simple pleasures bring to our lives and inspire others to embrace their own unique passions.

Conclusion:

As we navigate the ups and downs of life, it’s the little moments of joy and connection that sustain us. Whether we’re knitting a cozy scarf, strumming a cheerful tune on the ukulele, or cuddling with our beloved feline friends, finding harmony in the simple things reminds us of the beauty and wonder that surrounds us each day. Embrace the purrfect synergy of cats, knitting, and ukuleles, and let their collective magic bring a sense of peace and contentment to your life.

 

#Rhizo24: the reunion⤴

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Fridge magnet with map of world and connections drawn over it. Text says #rhizo14What were you doing 10 years ago? On January 14th, 2014, #rhizo14 – or Rhizomatic Learning – The community is the curriculum as it was officially called, began. As fellow rhizonauts will remember, this was the brainchild of Dave Cormier, and was originally envisaged as being a six week event to explore rhizomatic learning. It was a whole lot of fun, and I made a lot of very good friends through it. 

Over the years since, some of us have mused about getting the band back together, and a few weeks ago a few of us started jotting down some ideas in a Google Doc with an idea of revisiting #rhizo14 in some shape or form over the summer of 2024.

So, here’s my suggestion: we find out who’s interested in being part of the planning, and we do some brainstorming over the next few months with the aim of running something over the summer of 2024. All are welcome to sign up for any role that they fancy with one exception.

It would be good to have a student body this time to practise with – and I am nominating Dave to be that body. 

So – who’s in? Comment here, reply to my tweet, toot or Facebook post, or indicate in the Google Doc what you think.

And here’s to more rhizomatic adventures.

Image is of fridge magnet sent by Clarissa to rhizo14 participants. It is still on my fridge today.

McLuhan’s Tetrad⤴

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I’m keeping half an eye on #ETMooc2 at the moment, and one of this week’s suggested activities caught my interest.

Activity #1 – Marshall McLuhan Tetrad of Effects for Generative AI: What are the opportunities and challenges presented by the evolution of technologies in the digital age?
View the following video (3:45) for an example of McLuhan’s Tetrad OR search for other examples.
Brainstorm changes that are already occurring or will occur with the use of generative AI in your context. Add ideas to each of the following four quadrants: enhance, obsolete, retrieve, reverse.

Google Doc

I wondered how this might apply to my favourite non-MOOC activity, the Daily Create.

McLuhan's Tetrad
“McLuhan’s Tetrad” flickr photo by NomadWarMachine shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-SA) license

The Daily Create amplifies creativity, by encouraging DS106ers to create something every day. It makes copying obsolete, as the ethos is remix, not plagiarism. It retrieves inspiration, with a new prompt every day. There are no unexpected dissatisfactions, just a warning that #DS106 is #4Life

So long, and thanks for all the TAGS⤴

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clmooc TAGS
“clmooc TAGS” flickr photo by NomadWarMachine shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-SA) license

For almost ten years now, whenever I’ve been involved in an activity that involves Twitter conversations I’ve headed over to TAGS and set up a copy to collate tweets and produce visualisations like the one above. So earlier this month, as I was tweeting to the #ETMooc2 hashtag, I was devastated to realise that it was now broken (I knew it was going to be, but I didn’t want to believe that it had happened). I’m too upset to explain the reasons why, and anyway Alan has already done that, I just wanted to say how sad I am that TAGS has gone. My PhD thesis about serendipitous learning was shaped by my ability to collect #CLMooc tweets easily and see what the community conversations looked like, my research into lurkers with Aras, AK and Len used TAGS and similar apps.

So a huge thanks to Martin for all the TAGS. It was great while it lasted.