IN SEARCH OF LEADERSHIP: INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO BUILDING ADAPTIVE LEARNING COMMUNITIES

摘要

Learning is about making connections. This range of teaching-learning connections permeates the teaching and learning environment. We connect new knowledge to existing knowledge; we connect the digital world with the real world; we connect students to content, students to students, and students to teacher. We connect the classroom to the world, competencies to skills, individuals to groups, and groups to communities. And, most importantly, we connect technology to information - information to knowledge and knowledge to application in the real world. We connect students to life. Adaptive Learning Communities (ALCs) look at digital learning through a broader lens than personal or digital learning environments and can be defined as: The mobilization of digital technologies to transform schools through personal and community learning environments which serve as the catalyst for creating new relationships through a 'community for innovation' that connect all stakeholders to a common community action agenda. ALCs extend previous research and theory about learning theory, PLEs, mobile technologies, and expanding real-virtual learning spaces to a broader community context. ALCs 'connect' all stakeholders in the community rather than just students and teachers. Parents, business leaders, community representatives, government agencies - the entire community is engaged in building one mega-leaming space across the community for formal learning - but also for the collaborative linkages to address community development in all its guises. The elements of ALCs - or the 7Es -include: 1 Engage; 2 Experience; 3 Empower; 4 Effect; 5 Emote; 6 Evolve; 7 Efficacy. Combined together within the ALC, these elements have the potential to build powerful communities. Digital transformation takes more than technology. It will require a rediscovery of leadership and putting innovation back in to the core of each leader. Building a community for innovation requires a synergy of the entire community -educators, government and ministry leaders, students, faculty, private providers, social service organizations, religious leaders, parents, and more. Indeed, what we should be developing with ALCs are communities for innovation that collectively embrace innovation in all its guises and creative capacities.