Learning Technology which Makes a Difference:

A learning technology which makes a difference in Learning is called the “Learning Exchange” a product of Big Brothers Big Sisters. BBBS describe the TLE as follows: “The Learning Exchange (TLE) is BBBSA’s learning management system. BBBS staff, volunteers, and parents can participate in trainings from a variety of sources, collaborate on new ideas and best practices, and connect with others who may have insight on their role or challenges they are facing.” [i]

The Learning Exchange genuinely makes a difference to the dynamics of learning, because learning engagement occurs autonomously. The self-directed learning is described in the ACE —Learning Principles. “Learners are engaged with and inspired by their learning. They have autonomy over their learning and make informed choices, supported by teachers acting as coaches and mentors.[ii]

Describing the TLC:

Upon registering into The Learning Exchange (TLC), there is a catalog for browsing learning content which is also arranged by the type of learner who needs to engage with the training. An example of such includes; Employee specific or Parent specific or Volunteer specific content. Within the employee training ecology, there are certain training more specific to the roles, however all training is available to employees if they choose to engage in it. Artifact 1 shows a snippet of the catalog.

BBBS-artifact 1

nother feature is the ability to view, print and download transcripts of course series and workshops which have been completed. Learners can also join collaborative communities via Workplace to talk and share and have discussions together with millions of others learners.[iii] The volume of subscribers allows individuals to join and engage with others who ask questions or start a discussion. According the ACE: “Respectful, healthy, ethical relationships and interactions create a true sense of community. Communication is honest and transparent. Community values are clearly stated, actively lived, and define a distinct, sustained identity.”[iv]

The organization included the overarching mission of the BBBS by including training on the standards of practice as well as the service delivery model. These are documents which organizations hand out when there are new hires or put on their website, except employees soon forget what they stand for. In this case, the BBBS makes the introduction of these standards accessible, engage and users have unlimited access to the standards video’s downloadable files.

Ways in which the Learning Exchange makes a difference to their constituents is as follows:

• Being able to learn at a pace that suits the learner is a plus. Videos can be stopped, continued later and also repeated and assessments give immediate responses and they are not always a quiz, but scenarios that present themselves and sequence of events which may have to be followed when recruiting volunteers or completing family intakes.
• Being able to post reviews of the training, because feedback is always a helpful tool to other learners.
• Being able to influence learning and time space. Not being confined as stated in Thesis 1 of “Pushing the Boundaries of Possibility” that there is no pedagogical difference between learning online; and that it not be different in any qualitative way. [v]
• An Orientation to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to address a diverse workforce, and communities of families, children and volunteers.

Summary:

This learning management system (LMS) is not a typical hierarchical LMS which relies on an instructor as in a college course. It is a system of independent and interdependent engagement which has downloadable material to conduct in person workshops if preferred as well as self-directed learning tools for remote learning. In this way it is a technology mediated learning platform suitable to diverse learners of employees, volunteers and children enrolling in (BBBS) Big Brother Big Sister programs.

[i] https://bbbsconnect.sharepoint.com/pages/the-learning-exchange

[ii] ACE —Learning Principles

[iii] https://bbbs.workplace.com/groups/your/

[iv] 1 – 4 Learning Architecture; 5 – 8 Learning Culture; 9 – 10 Learning Ecology

[v] https://www.coursera.org/learn/ubiquitouslearning/lecture/cnrWe/pushing-the-boundaries-of-possibility