๐ 6 Principles of "Lean Forward Learning" ๐
Online learning is different. It's the wild west out there.
We know passive "lean back" learning isn't effective.
The best learning happens when we are actively engaged.
This is the paradigm behind "Lean Forward Learning"
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Online learning is different. It's the wild west out there.
We know passive "lean back" learning isn't effective.
The best learning happens when we are actively engaged.
This is the paradigm behind "Lean Forward Learning"
๐งต...
The Lean Forward paradigm is an extension of the "Learn by doing" theory of education set forth by John Dewey in the early 1900's.
However, the Lean Forward paradigm differs is that it outlines principles specifically with online education in mind.
What are these principles?
However, the Lean Forward paradigm differs is that it outlines principles specifically with online education in mind.
What are these principles?
๐ Principle # 1 ๐ Curated yet non-linear
The online course or workshop creates a sense of freedom, and yet, a sense of structure.
Students have some agency to โChoose Their Own Adventureโ.
The online course or workshop creates a sense of freedom, and yet, a sense of structure.
Students have some agency to โChoose Their Own Adventureโ.
As an online teacher, guide, or course creator, how can you design an experience that gives students/learners both freedom & structure?
๐ Principle # 2 ๐ Hands-on repetitions
The very nature of the program builds in inescapable hands-on repetitions with the exact thing students are trying to learn.
The very nature of the program builds in inescapable hands-on repetitions with the exact thing students are trying to learn.
Just like a video game, if you don't take the controls and move forward, you don't make progress.
In other words, it's designed to force "unavoidable engagement".
In other words, it's designed to force "unavoidable engagement".
How can you force "unavoidable engagement" in the course or workshop environment you are creating?
๐ Principle # 3 ๐ Uncomfortable
Being overly catered to allows students to "lean back". The further they lean back, the more they disengage. The more they disengage, the less they learn...
Being overly catered to allows students to "lean back". The further they lean back, the more they disengage. The more they disengage, the less they learn...
... It's okay for students to feel uncomfortable, challenged, and sometimes even frustrated.
Those are "*deep reps*". Thatโs when the deepest, stickiest learning happens!
And it's the "getting stuck" that leads to sticky learning.
Those are "*deep reps*". Thatโs when the deepest, stickiest learning happens!
And it's the "getting stuck" that leads to sticky learning.
Side note: The above is a deliberate form of "disfluency"
Disfluency is the lack of fluency in speech: accents, irregularities, stutters.
You would think that all disfluency is bad, but...
Disfluency is the lack of fluency in speech: accents, irregularities, stutters.
You would think that all disfluency is bad, but...
...but we actually crave a tiny amount of disfluency or else we become bored.
For example, as a person raised in the US, I perk up when listening to someone speaking English with a different accent. I "lean into" the conversation.
That extra tiny challenge is a good thing.
For example, as a person raised in the US, I perk up when listening to someone speaking English with a different accent. I "lean into" the conversation.
That extra tiny challenge is a good thing.
How can you make your online students "comfortably uncomfortable"?
How can you challenge them?
How can you make them lean into the disfluency?
How can you challenge them?
How can you make them lean into the disfluency?
๐ Principle # 4 ๐ Immersive
The group or workshop or course feels like a special self-contained mini-world. It's feels like a holistic learning system.
This ties into the non-linear principle where students have confidence that they can go off-road and choose their own path.
The group or workshop or course feels like a special self-contained mini-world. It's feels like a holistic learning system.
This ties into the non-linear principle where students have confidence that they can go off-road and choose their own path.
How can you guide the students and keep them in sync, AND YET still allow them flexibility to follow the beat of their own drum and find their own flow within the learning environment?
๐ Principle # 5 ๐ Measurable
There are ways to measure a student's progress.
There are ways to measure a student's progress.
How can a student measure their own progress? Can they get feedback from others? Are there simple metrics they can measure up against?
๐ Principle # 5 ๐ Multiple avenues of engagement
Students don't just "read" and "watch". They DO.
Plus they also do some combination of: commenting, interacting, and sharing.
This ties back into getting reps...
Students don't just "read" and "watch". They DO.
Plus they also do some combination of: commenting, interacting, and sharing.
This ties back into getting reps...
...reading reps, watching reps, doing reps...reps commenting, interacting, and sharing.
(Alliteration Alert!)
"Multiple avenues of engagement ensures every individual acquires the abilities everyone is after."
(Alliteration Alert!)
"Multiple avenues of engagement ensures every individual acquires the abilities everyone is after."
How can you ensure students and learners are getting the reps?
How can you encourage a variety of different kinds of repetitions?
How are you incorporating a social component?
How can you encourage a variety of different kinds of repetitions?
How are you incorporating a social component?
๐The 6 Principles of "Lean Forward Learning" ๐
The principles create an all-encompassing tsunami of a learning experience.
I hope you consider this paradigm in any course or workshop you are creating.
Not only can it lead to powerful outcomes, but it's a ton of fun...
The principles create an all-encompassing tsunami of a learning experience.
I hope you consider this paradigm in any course or workshop you are creating.
Not only can it lead to powerful outcomes, but it's a ton of fun...
I show exactly how I incorporated the Lean Forward paradigm into a self-guided educational program called "Obsidian Flight School" ๐ @obsdmd
Check out the video:
Check out the video:
Want to amplify the paradigm of "Lean Forward Learning"
Support "Obsidian Flight School" on @ProductHunt
I'm there to answer questions & receive feedback.
producthunt.com/posts/obsidianโฆ
Support "Obsidian Flight School" on @ProductHunt
I'm there to answer questions & receive feedback.
producthunt.com/posts/obsidianโฆ
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