Growing Learner Autonomy

GROWING GREATER LEARNER AUTONOMY

An interactive exploration

This interactive infographic provides an overview of the framework used by Notre Dame Learning to support the development of course materials to enhance learner autonomy in a blended history course during the COVID 19 pandemic.The framework's utility extends past the pandemic and can serve as a valuable resource for developing enhanced course materials or rethinking instruction altogether to provide a more effective constructivist-based model for blended learning. Each of the sections to the right provides more insight into practices that can be adopted by individual instructors desiring to use technology more effectively and considerations for collaborating with instructional design and technology teams to adopt and implement technology tools to enhance learner-centered course content.

Technological affordances

instructional affordances

institutional affordances

+Background Info

Based on: Hsu & Lewandowski (2023). Utilizing constructivist-based multimedia principles in blended course design supports greater learner autonomy: A case study. In J. M. Spector et al. (Eds.), Learning, Design, and Technology (pp. 2477-2507). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17461-7_181

Instructional Affordances

Instructional Affordances are "ideas and applications of instructional design" that con contribute to enhance or rethink how teaching and learning take place. These affordances provide actionable guidance for instructors to move toward providing more effective constructivist-based learning experiences in their courses. Some of these affordances are things that instructors can do on their own, while others may require collaboration with experienced instructional design teams to implement. Explore each icon to learn more.

Institutional Affordances

Consider these questions when exploring how you will enhance your teaching and learning to increase learner autonomy.

• What supports (programs, personnel, etc.) are available to help me with this initiative?
• What resources (funding, time, etc.) are available to make this happen?
• What support and resources will be available beyond the initial implementation? How will it continue?

Institutional Affordances refer to the support and resources available from your school or university to make changes or implement initiatives to support learner autonomy. In the case study, the university provided grant funding and collaboration time (within the urgent constraints of the COVID 19 pandemic) to develop and implement the multimedia content and tools to enhance the history course.

About the Article

During the COVID 19 pandemic, universities and students had to quickly pivot to teaching and learning through online means. Notre Dame Learning (consisting of the Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence and the Office of Digital Learning) partnered with professors at the university to rapidly adapt in person courses to support fully-remote learning. The case study from this chapter of Learning, Design, and Technology provides a case study outlining the collaboration between ND Learning and one history professor to enhance and rethink existing practices to adapt to the constraints of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Technological Affordances

Ask questions like these to explore the technological affordances of initiatives that aim to increase learner autonomy.

• How does the technology tool support my learning objectives?
• Does the technology tool comply with student privacy laws?
• How does the technology tool integrate with existing systems (like the school/university LMS)?
• How will students interact with the technology tool? Is it accessible?

When enhancing teaching and learning experiences with technology, it is essential to consider the features and limitations of the technology available to you. Be cautious of choosing a specific technology tool just because it has cool features and flashy marketing. Make sure to focus on learning objectives first and evaluate whether a tool will support or hinder those objectives.