Educating the 21st Century’s Engineers and IT Professionals

2012 ◽  
pp. 132-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonios Andreatos
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Cultural Landscape ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
It Professionals ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Media Communication ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice

In this chapter, some important aspects of preparing engineers and IT professionals of the 21st century are examined, especially in the context of new media communication skills in trans-national and trans-cultural globalised environments. Initially, the chapter refers to the value and need of informal and continuing education; next, it reviews recent learning theories aiming at covering learning in today’s complex, networked, and trans-cultural landscape; it also presents competences demanded in contemporary and emerging engineering and IT workplaces, as well as the skills needed by the 21st century’s engineers and IT professionals. Finally, the chapter has proposed educational policies, enterprise policies, and suggestions for self-directed learning which will help preparing engineers and IT professionals for the workplace and will also enable them to continue learning, individually or in teams, both face to face and distance mode, and participating in real or in virtual communities of practice.

Personal Learning Networks

2010 ◽  
pp. 226-240
Author(s):  
Teresa J. Carter ◽  
Jeffrey S. Nugent
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Learning Networks ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Personal Learning Networks ◽  
Personal Learning ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice

Twenty-first century information communication technologies are enabling learners to create personal learning networks (PLNs) tailored to individual learning goals, needs, and interests, with implications for self-directed learning in the digital age. New, readily available digital media tools, open courseware, and other Web 2.0 technologies are changing how learners interact online, creating a participatory culture of knowledge sharing and content creation that is very different from early uses of the Web for accessing content. As learners participate in the multiple virtual communities of practice that comprise a PLN, they require new skills that merit reconsideration of the role of the educator in helping learners to become self-directed in both formal and informal learning contexts.

Impact of Chinese Culture Values on Knowledge Sharing Through Online Communities of Practice

2009 ◽  
pp. 1101-1114
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Alexandre Ardichvili ◽  
Martin Maurer ◽  
Tim Wentling ◽  
Reed Stuedemann
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Multinational Organization ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
Unexpected Findings ◽  
Online Communities Of Practice ◽  
High Degree

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how national (Chinese) cultural factors influence knowledge sharing behavior in virtual communities of practice at a large U.S.-based multinational organization. The data in this study come from interviews with the company’s employees in China, and managers who are involved in managing knowledge-sharing initiatives. The study results suggest that overall the influence of the national culture could be less pronounced in online knowledge sharing than what the literature has suggested. Although Chinese employees’ tendency to draw sharp distinctions between in-groups and out-groups, as well as the modesty requirements were barriers to knowledge sharing online, the issue of saving face was less important than expected, and attention paid to power and hierarchy seemed to be less critical than what the literature indicated. A surprising finding was that in the initially assumed collectivistic Chinese culture, the high degree of competitiveness among employees and job security concerns seem to override the collectivistic tendencies and are the main reasons for knowledge hoarding. The reasons for unexpected findings could be associated with differences between face-to-face and online knowledge sharing environments, the influence of the company’s organizational culture, and the recent rapid changes of the overall Chinese cultural patterns.

A Reflective Essay of a Conceptual Model for Self-Directed Learning for the Adult Learner

2022 ◽  
pp. 163-172
Author(s):  
Maria Paradiso-Testa
Keyword(s):  
Seventh Century ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Art And Science ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
The Many ◽  
Emergent Theory ◽  
Reflective Essay

Of the many factors affecting our lives today, the ever-changing landscape of education is at the forefront. Learning is a complex behavior which involves cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. While pedagogy is the art and science of teaching children, andragogy is the art and science of teaching adults. The term pedagogy came into use in the seventh century. It wasn't until the 19th and 20th centuries that what we know as traditional learning theories—behaviorism, humanism, cognitivism, social cognitivism, and constructivism—were recognized. They were derived from the investigative tools of theorists—Pavlov, Skinner, Piaget, Freud, Maslow, Rogers, and Thorndike—to understand the nature of learning. In 1970, Malcolm Knowles promoted andragogy as a model of assumption that serves as a basis for an emergent theory. Today, the way of differentiating adult learners from children learners is through the process of andragogy.

Insuring Self-Direction and Flexibility in Distance Learning for Adults

2011 ◽  
pp. 322-336
Author(s):  
Mary C. Ware
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Adult Learning Theories ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Learning Flexibility ◽  
On Line ◽  
Contract Learning ◽  
On Line Learning

Distance learning via the internet has become the key to reaching adult learners globally. Adult learners have been shown to benefit from such qualities as: provisions for self-directed learning, flexibility, and frequent communication with the instructor in order to achieve success. Contract learning and contract grading are two innovations popularized during the “individualized instruction” movement of the 1970s which are being used to assist instructors of twenty-first century on-line learning courses in providing for self-direction, flexibility and frequent communication. The chapter which follows will provide an overview of contract learning and contract grading as it can be used with adult learners in distance learning courses (e.g., courses supported by WebCT, Blackboard). The chapter will examine adult learning theories which support contract learning/grading as well as provide information on designing learning contracts and grading contracts which are appropriate for adult learners.

scholarly journals Introduction to the Special Issue

2021 ◽  
pp. 190-194
Keyword(s):  
Interest Group ◽  
Special Interest ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Education Conference

Self-Directed Learning and Advising in Language Education Conference organized by IATEFL Learner Autonomy Special Interest Group (LASIG) and Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University School of Foreign Languages, Turkey (AYBU SFL) took place online on 24 April 2021. It was originally planned as a face-to-face event in 2019, yet it was postponed to a later date due to the global outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

scholarly journals Implementing Synchronous Online Flipped Learning for Pre-service Teachers During COVID-19

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 653-661
Author(s):  
Yong-Jik Lee ◽  
Robert Davis* ◽  
Yue Li
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Flipped Learning ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Learner Engagement ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Collaborative Activities ◽  
Synchronous Online

<p style="text-align: justify;">Most research has examined flipped learning within the context of face-to-face (F2F) instruction. However, previous research has not effectively explored the possibility of how online synchronous flipped learning influences pre-service teachers (PSTs) in teacher education programs during Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Recognizing the gap in the literature, this paper explored three aspects of online synchronous flipped learning by understanding 1) PSTs' learner engagement, 2) self-directed learning, and 3) learner satisfaction in a Korean university. The data was collected from Korean PST's interviews, reflection notes, and course evaluations. The thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data sources. The study findings showed that PSTs favored a synchronous online FL because it encouraged them to engage in various collaborative activities through Zoom breakout sessions. Also, pre-class materials from online FL can positively enhance the PSTs' self-directed learning process. Based on these findings, this study provides suggestions on how to effectively implement online synchronous flipped learning in teacher education programs.</p>

scholarly journals e-PBL: your tablet for effective Medical Spanish learning

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Ana Niño
Keyword(s):  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Instructional Method ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Language Class ◽  
Language Communication ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Flexible Framework ◽  
Learning And Collaboration

<p>This paper aims to describe some issues surrounding the development of a VLE for the blended teaching of medical Spanish via a problem-based learning (PBL) methodology which has its foundations on constructivism, self-directed learning and collaboration. Firstly, the main purpose, features and stages of this instructional method are discussed together with some recommendations for its implementation in the specialist language class. Then some examples of useful e-tools and resources for blended PBL and/or e-PBL are presented. Finally, the components of the medical Spanish VLE are described in a flexible framework that integrates language and content based knowledge with a view to support and complement face-to-face tuition and provide multiple opportunities for interactive practice and feedback in preparation for effective target language communication in the students' professional future.</p>

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