Learning Plan
Encyclopedia
A Learning Plan is a document (possibly an interactive or on-line document) that is used to plan learning
, usually over an extended period of time.
Any entity can have a learning plan. They are often used by individuals to plan and manage their own learning, but they can also be used by teams, communities of practice or organizations. An organizational level plan can be the aggregate of its individuals plans or it can add information on the emergent learning needs of the overall organization.
The active development and maintenance of a learning plan can enrich a person's life and the sharing of learning plans can help to strengthen a community.
A set of learning goals that the person (or organization) hopes to achieve within a specific period of time. It is often useful to divide larger goals in to more manageable sub-goals that can be realized within weeks or months.
Each learning goal (or sub goal) should have a series of concrete steps or actions that the person will take to move towards the goal. Actions should be actual behaviors. Writing a quality article for Wikipedia is an example of an action. Or, if the learning goal is "understand Indian cooking", preparing and serving a masala to a group of East Indian friends might be an appropriate action.
Each action should be associated with one or more resources and with evidence.
Resources are anything that can be used to realize the actions to be taken towards the learning goal. One of the best resources is a mentor or coach, but there are many others, including books, courses, travel, the Internet and especially Wikipedia. Once a resource has been applied to a goal it is often helpful to rate the effectiveness of the resource, especially in cases where the learning plan will be shared.
Evidence is used to demonstrate that an action has been taken, that progress towards the goal has been made, and finally that the goal has been achieved. Evidence can be private, when the person does not need to demonstrate to other people that the goal has been achieved, or public, when evidence is required.
A learning plan will often have parts that are strictly private, others that are only shared with one's initimates, others that are for various groups, and it may have some parts that are public.
in recent pedagogy
and andragogy
. Whereas a learning plan looks forward to what is to be achieved, a learning record looks backwards to the past and what has been accomplished. Two sides of the same coin.
A Learning Landscape brings together the strengths of Electronic Portfolio
and Social Networking. A Learning Landscape is usually based on an individual's interests, skills, reflection and competencies. By sharing these aspirations and thoughts other members can offer support and encouragement.
Tools such as ELGG provide facilities for developing Learning Landscapes.
provides active support for its employees learning plans and there are a number of useful documents at its site.
There is growing open source support for ePortfolios.
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
, usually over an extended period of time.
Any entity can have a learning plan. They are often used by individuals to plan and manage their own learning, but they can also be used by teams, communities of practice or organizations. An organizational level plan can be the aggregate of its individuals plans or it can add information on the emergent learning needs of the overall organization.
The active development and maintenance of a learning plan can enrich a person's life and the sharing of learning plans can help to strengthen a community.
Components of a Learning Plan
A good learning plan is a well articulated document with the following components:A set of learning goals that the person (or organization) hopes to achieve within a specific period of time. It is often useful to divide larger goals in to more manageable sub-goals that can be realized within weeks or months.
Each learning goal (or sub goal) should have a series of concrete steps or actions that the person will take to move towards the goal. Actions should be actual behaviors. Writing a quality article for Wikipedia is an example of an action. Or, if the learning goal is "understand Indian cooking", preparing and serving a masala to a group of East Indian friends might be an appropriate action.
Each action should be associated with one or more resources and with evidence.
Resources are anything that can be used to realize the actions to be taken towards the learning goal. One of the best resources is a mentor or coach, but there are many others, including books, courses, travel, the Internet and especially Wikipedia. Once a resource has been applied to a goal it is often helpful to rate the effectiveness of the resource, especially in cases where the learning plan will be shared.
Evidence is used to demonstrate that an action has been taken, that progress towards the goal has been made, and finally that the goal has been achieved. Evidence can be private, when the person does not need to demonstrate to other people that the goal has been achieved, or public, when evidence is required.
Modes of Learning
A learning plan can be used for many modes of learning. One taxonomy is as follows:- CultureCultureCulture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
- learning about one's own or other people's cultures - FinancialFINANCIALFINANCIAL is the weekly English-language newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. Published by Intelligence Group LLC, FINANCIAL is focused on opinion leaders and top business decision-makers; It's about world’s largest companies, investing, careers, and small business. It is...
- learning how to manage money and how money works in the economy - PhysicalPhysicalPhysical may refer to:*Body, the physical structure of an organism**Human body, the physical structure of a human*Physical abuse, abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm...
- physical fitnessPhysical fitnessPhysical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
can be a form of learning and a learning plan can be used to improve and track a person's fitness - Political (Citizen) - learning more about one's polity and the rights and duties of citizenshipCitizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
- RelationshipInterpersonal relationshipAn interpersonal relationship is an association between two or more people that may range from fleeting to enduring. This association may be based on limerence, love, solidarity, regular business interactions, or some other type of social commitment. Interpersonal relationships are formed in the...
- things that one wants to learn about people in key relationships, and how to be more effective in relationships - SpiritualSpiritualitySpirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
- deepening one's understanding of the spiritual dimension of life; a prayerPrayerPrayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
or meditation journal can be part of a learning plan. - WorkEmploymentEmployment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
- professional learning
A learning plan will often have parts that are strictly private, others that are only shared with one's initimates, others that are for various groups, and it may have some parts that are public.
Maintaining a Learning Plan
Learning plans are most effective when reviewed and maintained regularly, for devoted learners daily. One way to do this is to use the learning plan to track a daily activity, preferably one associated with some learning goal. A cyclist might track how far they cycle each day, a blogger might maintain a learning plan in the form of a blog, and so on. The key is to integrate learning, and maintenance of the learning plan, with daily activities.Learning Plans, Learning Records and the ePortfolio
As a learning plan evolves, goals are attained, evidence is collected and becomes a learning record. There has been much attention to learning records or the Electronic PortfolioElectronic portfolio
An electronic portfolio, also known as an e-portfolio or digital portfolio, is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on the Web. Such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and hyperlinks...
in recent pedagogy
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
and andragogy
Andragogy
Andragogy consists of learning strategies focused on adults. It is often interpreted as the process of engaging adult learners with the structure of learning experience. The term ‘andragogy’ has been used in different times and countries with various connotations. Nowadays there exist mainly three...
. Whereas a learning plan looks forward to what is to be achieved, a learning record looks backwards to the past and what has been accomplished. Two sides of the same coin.
Learning Landscape
A Learning Landscape is a broader concept than a Learning Plan, placing the individual at the centre of their learning, allowing them to connect with other learners and create online communities.A Learning Landscape brings together the strengths of Electronic Portfolio
Electronic portfolio
An electronic portfolio, also known as an e-portfolio or digital portfolio, is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on the Web. Such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and hyperlinks...
and Social Networking. A Learning Landscape is usually based on an individual's interests, skills, reflection and competencies. By sharing these aspirations and thoughts other members can offer support and encouragement.
Tools such as ELGG provide facilities for developing Learning Landscapes.
External links
Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
provides active support for its employees learning plans and there are a number of useful documents at its site.
There is growing open source support for ePortfolios.