Learning Ecosystems

by Daniel S. Christian, M.S.Ed.

Stephen Downes: Heading up a new initiative in Canada where individuals can access/get credit for learning from any education provider at all

On 12/10/2013, in 21st century, Canada, career development, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, cost of getting a degree, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, innovation, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, professional development, reinvent, staying relevant, student-related, workplace, by Daniel Christian

Learning and Performance Support Systems — from Stephen Downes

Excerpt:

This post is to introduce you to our Learning and Performance Support Systems program, a new $19 million 5-year initiative at the National Research Council that I will be leading.

If I had to depict LPSS in a nutshell, I would describe it as a combination of the MOOC project we’ve been working on over the last few year, as well as our work in Personal Learning Environments (PLEs). The objective is to build a system where individuals can access, and get credit for, learning from any education provider at all, whether from home, the workplace, or at a school.

What follows is a version of the case we presented to NRC senior executive in order to have this program approved. They supported our proposal, and for the last few weeks I have been engaged in developing the program implementation with a large team of NRC colleagues.

…

Learning and Performance Support Systems
The LPSS program will deliver software algorithms and prototypes that enable Canada’s training and development sector to offer learning solutions to industry partners that will address their immediate and long term skills challenges.

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I originally saw this via Tony Bates at:

Massive funding for the development of Canadian online training tools and services

From DSC:
Congratulations Stephen! May these efforts help many people reinvent themselves and stay marketable — while helping them pursue their gifts, passions, abilities.

Also see:

The Slow Death of the Carnegie Unit & the Future of Education — from etale.org by Bernard Bull
Excerpt:
Consider that the Carnegie Unit preceded the contemporary concept of learning objectives, outcomes, or standards (which have their own potential forthcoming disruptions).

2 Responses to “Stephen Downes: Heading up a new initiative in Canada where individuals can access/get credit for learning from any education provider at all”

Andy Thorburn says:

12/10/2013 at 10:17 AM

This is great news from our northern neighbor. How can we get discussion and consideration in USA for this kind of thinking and cooperation? This would not exclude allegiance or relationships w/ current higher education institutions, only add another option to the validated learning process. From provincialism to cooperative, progressive work together to provide a quality education.
Daniel Christian says:

12/10/2013 at 10:41 AM

Thanks Andy for checking this posting out and providing some solid insight and vision here. Great call! I wish I had a better answer to your question, but some initial thoughts include:

— Per Insider Higher Ed, the U.S. Department of Education has announced that it’s specifically looking for innovations within higher education that would increase quality while reducing costs. (“The Secretary is particularly interested in experiments that will improve student persistence and academic success, result in shorter time to degree, and reduce student loan indebtedness,” reads the notice issued by the Department of Education.)

— Stephen Downes might have some contacts in the US who are mulling this type of think over

— Badging advocates/initiatives

— other?

Thanks again!
Daniel

Learning Ecosystems

2 Responses to “Stephen Downes: Heading up a new initiative in Canada where individuals can access/get credit for learning from any education provider at all”

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