When I think of ecosystems for learning, I find myself reflecting on my roots in sports. Coaches serve as engineers in this type of learning environment because every drill is designed to prepare you for the game. Sports provide some of the best examples of ecosystems that have been engineered for learning skills that need to be applied in specific situations.
I was fortunate enough to be a part of one of the most storied basketball programs of all time at the University of North Carolina. At North Carolina we have countless die hard fans, but what stunned me even more than their dedication, was the level of preparation that went into every game. The best coaches understand that the closer practice mimics situations in the game, the more likely the drill is to improve performance. If you get to the highest level, you’ll have people dedicated to every unique aspect of the game and the athlete. You could have a shooting coach, a strength coach, a sports psychologist, a nutritionist, a chef, a workout partner, and many other specialists. In addition to the people there is also all of the equipment such as shoes, gear, specialized basketballs, a Dr. Dish Shooting Gun, weights, ropes, dumbbells, barbells, hurdles, and the list goes on. Technology has also added an entirely new dimension to training for sport, especially with apps using augmented reality to do things like track your shots during a drill. People, equipment, and technology all play interdependent roles in developing an elite athlete. This is an ecosystem.
What is a learning ecosystem?
When you take a learning ecosystem perspective, it means considering all of the modalities and tools that work interdependently to teach a person how to do something. The ICS Learning Group created an infographic to illustrate this relationship of interdependence between modalities and tools. According to the ICS Learning Group, the five types of environments that exist in a learning ecosystem are traditional, asynchronous, synchronous, social, and web. As an example, if you were conducting a live training session in a classroom, an ecosystem perspective would include considering how the documents, the visual design of the presentations, the classroom setup, adult learning theory, and mobile engagement software, all work together to educate a learner. By considering how these different environments work interdependently, it allows for a more wholistic approach to an intentional learning experience.
In addition to what happens during live training sessions, an ecosystem perspective would include what happened prior to the training and what happens after the training when the learners are applying what they learned. A very simple question a good learning ecosystem engineer would ask is are there follow-up activities that help to reinforce the learning? If there are not follow-up activities then how could a person know they understood the information enough to apply it appropriately? How will an organization measure the effectiveness of training without follow-up or feedback? Assessment is a key aspect of measuring the effectiveness of any learning ecosystem. Effective learning ecosystems are obvious like before and after pictures. A learning ecosystem perspective means considering all of the factors that play into learning and designing those elements to reinforce the principles taught in a training session.
What is a learning ecosystem engineer?
Often we can look to nature for inspiration and examples that fit perfectly. If you want to understand a learning ecosystem engineer, look no further than a beaver. A beaver creates a dam to contain a waterway so that it can live in an environment that allows it to thrive. The dam creates deep, still water that gives the beaver food, shelter, and protection. As a learning ecosystem engineer, it is important to create containers for all of the information in an environment that supports the learner through knowledge acquisition and application. While it is true that learning happens outside of the space a learning ecosystem engineer creates, it is important that everything in the space you create helps to drive learning towards the outcomes and objectives established in the design phase. A learning ecosystem engineer, should not only create dynamic, engaging content for inside the classroom, but should also use credible articles to support the concepts, a mobile app to create feedback loops during the training, and a community of practice so that the learners can use the new skills in a safe environment.
An engineer typically creates, builds, and maintains a machine. When an engineer designs a car they must find a way to make the engine purr, the wheels turn, and the cabin secure to get a person to their destination safely. A learning ecosystem is also a machine with interdependent parts that must be constructed in a way that supports a healthy environment for learning. It must get people to where they want to go. A learning ecosystem engineer must first consider all of the parts in the environment and then find a way to fit all of those parts together to create something remarkable and useful.
How can you start engineering your learning ecosystem?
This can be a daunting task and you may be wondering where to start. How does a person engineer an entire learning ecosystem? The same way you would eat an elephant, one bite at a time. Although I would not suggest nor endorse eating an elephant. The idea here is that you want to start with a small step. Answer these questions and you will be well on your way to engineering an effective learning ecosystem.
- Does your training program address all five environments in a learning ecosystem?
- Does your training program direct learners between your environments?
- Do you need help answering these questions?