Abstract

Given the influence of digital technologies on the world at large education and educators are yet again being forced to consider their educational practices.  Not all educators have been socialised professionally to use technologies and therefore knowledge gaps exist.  This book adds to emerging conversations about the use of technologies to support and indeed replace traditional teaching methodologies in a range of educational settings.  It offers an example of innovative approach ‘LearningWheel’ to bridge the afore mentioned knowledge gap and provides an opportunity for readers to engage with technologies for teaching and learning purposes.

Beginning with an outline of how technologies are shaping the learning landscape more broadly each subsequent chapter takes on a layer of the LearningWheel and sets it in context from a theoretical position. An example wheel is included in each chapter, as are stop and pause questions to prompt educators to engage with the content in a very real sense.  By the end of the book readers will have had the opportunity to connect with the LearningWheel (VCoP) in the development of a Learning Wheel unique to this book.  

Deborah Kellsey is the Director of Digital and IT services at Salford College, with a responsibility for driving technology enhanced learning. Deborah has twenty years teaching experience in both Further and Higher Education in visual communication and as a practicing graphic designer. Deborah is the founder of the LearningWheel and in 2016 Deborah was named in the Jisc Top 50 FE influencers on social media.

Amanda Taylor is currently a senior lecturer in the school of social work at the University of Central Lancashire.  Previous to her academic career Amanda was a psychiatric social worker in Northern Ireland, specialising in community Mental Health and services for Deaf people.  It was Amanda’s interest in the development of creative teaching methodologies, ones that can engage students in a dynamic, meaningful and informative manner, that brought her to England and social work education. She is known for her work in the area oftechnologies in social work education and is the founder of The Use of  Book Groups in Social Work Education and Practice which can be found on Twitter: @SWBookGroup and Storify: https://storify.com/AMLTaylor66/the-use-of-book-clubs-in-social-work-education

In 2015 Amanda was named in the Jisc Top 50 HE influencers on social media. 

I am delighted to have this opportunity of endorsing Amanda and Deborah’s new book, The LearningWheel: A model of digital pedagogy.  This is not just another book on technology enhanced learning. This book offers valuable insights and practical guidance on how technology can actually transform learning. The focus is on pedagogy and how you can enhance your practice through the appropriate and creative use of different digital tools.

The innovative Learning wheel model offers a visual graphic for engaging with the growing number of digital tools practitioners have access to, both in and outside of our learning spaces. It offers ideas and inspiration for practitioners on how they can develop their digital practice.

The emphasis on collaboration and communication is something which the Learning Wheel offers as a key concept, as a way of delivering learning and assessment and as a way of encouraging the sharing of practice across our academic community both in the UK and internationally.

This is an essential guide for those who are supporting staff with their development of their digital practice, as well as for those staff who are wishing to develop their own. It brings together the underpinning theory and good practice principles from those leading innovators in our field together with practical examples of how technology is enhancing our learners’ experiences.

Deborah’s and Amanda’s passion to support practitioners to truly transform their practice is evident in every page of this book. I am excited to see how this book will support further innovative uses of the Learning Wheel and encourage the development of its associated global community of practice.