Designing Learning Innovation

Politecnico di Milano via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/designing-learning-innovation

Introduction

### Course Review: Designing Learning Innovation on Coursera #### Overview As educators, we constantly seek ways to enrich our teaching methodologies and enhance the learning experience for our students. The **Designing Learning Innovation** course on Coursera provides a compelling framework for educators looking to innovate their teaching strategies. This course is tailored for individuals without a specific pedagogical background as well as those eager to deepen their understanding of effective teaching design. The emphasis on cultivating a designing culture that supports learning innovation is commendable and addresses a crucial gap in contemporary education. #### Course Syllabus Breakdown **Week 1: Why Learning Innovation** The course begins with a thorough exploration of the rationale behind learning innovation. It addresses the essential question: "Why must we innovate our teaching?" By delving into this topic, participants are encouraged to reflect on the necessity of evolving instructional practices and the benefits that come with embracing change. **Week 2: The Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)** In the second week, the focus shifts to Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs), a central topic in educational design. Drawing from theories such as Constructive Alignment, Dublin Descriptors, and Bloom’s Taxonomies, this week equips participants with the tools to craft comprehensive and meaningful learning objectives. These outcomes serve as a vital foundation for structuring educational experiences effectively. **Week 3: The Assessment** Week three addresses assessment—an integral part of the teaching and learning process. Understanding how to evaluate both teaching methods and learning outcomes is crucial for innovation. The course provides insights on how assessment strategies can inform and improve educational practice. **Week 4: The Pedagogical Frameworks** Week four introduces participants to various pedagogical frameworks. By understanding these frameworks, educators can apply structured approaches to their teaching design, ensuring that their innovative methods are grounded in theoretical understanding. **Weeks 5 & 6: The Learning Innovation Network** These weeks are devoted to exploring the Learning Innovation Network, developed by METID - Politecnico di Milano. This innovative framework emphasizes interaction among participants in the learning experience. The deconstruction of the learning process into key components—subjects, activities, contents, channels, and the outside world—enables educators to observe and rethink their teaching practices. Participants will learn how to utilize Networked Learning to design engaging and effective learning environments that integrate external resources and foster collaboration and interaction. #### Course Attributes One of the standout features of the **Designing Learning Innovation** course is its practical approach. The curriculum is designed not just to inform but to empower educators with actionable tools and methodologies. The course encourages a collaborative mindset and provides a platform for educators to engage with peers from diverse backgrounds, enhancing the learning experience further. #### Recommendation Whether you are just starting your journey in teaching or are a seasoned educator looking to refresh your approach, the **Designing Learning Innovation** course is a notable choice. It offers a comprehensive toolkit that allows you to innovate your teaching practices while grounding your efforts in solid pedagogical principles. The blend of theoretical knowledge with practical application makes this course invaluable. **Who Should Enroll?** - Educators at all levels who wish to enhance their teaching methods. - Individuals entering the teaching profession without a pedagogical background. - Educational leaders aiming to foster a culture of innovation in their institutions. In conclusion, if you're seeking to reinvigorate your teaching practices and engage your students in new ways, I highly recommend enrolling in **Designing Learning Innovation** on Coursera. It's an investment in your professional development that promises to yield rich dividends in your teaching career.

Syllabus

Why Learning Innovation

The topic of this first week “Why should we carry out Learning Innovation” explores the concept of Learning Innovation and the reasons behind it, trying to find an answer to the question: “why should we need to innovate our teaching?”

The Intended Learning Outcomes

In this second week we will look into the topic of Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and their key role as a guide in the process of designing teaching experiences. We will start from the Constructive Alignment theory to then analyze the Dublin Descriptors and Bloom’s Taxonomies, useful in helping us to create a richer plan for the Intended Learning Outcomes.

The Assessment

The topic of this third week is Assessment of the teaching and learning experience.

The Pedagogical Frameworks

In this fourth week we will consider the pedagogical frameworks and their potential use when designing learning innovation.

The Learning Innovation Network: active classroom

In the fifth and sixth week we explore the Learning Innovation Network as a tool for designing teaching and learning experiences, developed by METID - Politecnico di Milano. It places at the center of attention the dynamic of interactions among subjects that generate the experience of teaching and learning. The Learning Innovation Network is for the teacher designer a tool for designing learning innovation: through the deconstruction of the learning experience in its key components (subjects, activities, contents, channels, outside world) it stimulates observation and offers ideas for redesigning. In this fifth week, we will focus, in particular, on the use of Networked Learning to plan learning innovation, starting by identifying and representing the subjects of teaching and learning experience and the definition and description of learning activities for active classes. In the sixth week, the focus will be on the designing of contents, of communication channels and strategies to integrate the “outside world” in order to support teaching and learning activities, and monitoring the innovative experience of teaching-learning.

The Learning Innovation Network: contents and useful connections

In the fifth and sixth week we explore the Learning Innovation Network tool for teaching and learning design, developed by METID - Politecnico di Milano, that sets the dynamic of interactions between subjects that generate the experience of teaching and learning and use them at the center of attention. The Learning Innovation Network is for the teacher designer a tool for the design of learning innovation: through the deconstruction of the learning experience in its key components (subjects, activities, content, channels, outside world) it stimulates observation and offers ideas for redesigning. After identifying and describing the subjects in the teaching and learning experience, in this sixth week we are going to focus on the planning related to content, channels of communication and strategies to integrate the “outside world” as well as monitoring finalized to assess the efficacy of teaching innovation interventions.

Overview

Where to start to innovate your teaching? But before that, what does it mean to innovate in the classroom? Designing Learning Innovation aims to put the designing culture at the service of learning innovation, supporting those who do not have a specific pedagogical background and those who wish to learn the basic tools of a good teaching design then to continue exploring the frontiers of innovation. A set of logical and methodological tools to innovate teaching, finding the most suitable approa

Skills

Reviews

Overall, a very good course, which could be improved with more frequent and varied assessment of learning.

Great content. Engaging and very clear explanation by the instructor sussana

This is the best course to polish my teaching skills and aware about innovative teaching techniques.

Excellent ! Every Facilitator shoud learn this Course.

A thourough, well constrcuted and clear course. Thank you!\n\nA plus would be to provide concrete examples of designs, assessements or activities at times.