There are many educational trends. This presentation only focuses on four: adaptive learning, event-based learning, competency-based education and metacognitive learning. It was part of a session at the University of Northampton.

1. Educational Trends
Brenda Cecilia Padilla Rodríguez
May 4, 2016

2. Some trends…
Adaptive
Learning
Event-Based
Learning
Competency-
Based
Education
Metacognitive
Approach to
Learning
Educational Trends, May 2016 2

3. Adaptive Learning:
What is it?
Educational Trends, May 2016 3
• Best in hybrid and online learning environments, where
students can be monitored by software and tracking
Data-driven approach to learning,
which adjusts to learners’
interactions and performance

4. Adaptive Learning:
Who is using it?
• The Adaptive Learning Market Acceleration Grant Program (Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation) provides grants to study adaptive
learning platforms in over 20 courses through different
pedagogical approaches.
Educational Trends, May 2016 4
eAdvisor
(Arizona State
University, USA)
iLime
(Universidad
Internacional de
La Rioja, Spain)
Adaptive
learning LMS
(University of
Phoenix, USA)
E2Coach
(University of
Michigan, USA)

5. Adaptive Learning:
Why is it relevant?
• Personalised learning
o One size does NOT fit all.
• Improve graduation rates and identify students at
risk of dropping out
• Having access to analytics has a positive impact on
learning (87% of college students, n= 2,600)
Educational Trends, May 2016 5

6. Event-Based Learning:
What is it?
Educational Trends, May 2016 6
• Based on the idea that events, such as births,
weddings, religious holidays and festivals, shape our
personal and national histories
Learning activities that run over a
series of days and create a
memorable sense of occasion

7. Event-Based Learning:
Who is using it?
Educational Trends, May 2016 7
Knowledge-building events:
Bioblitzes
People that carry out a
biological survey of an area
within a short period of time
Community event:
Scratch Days
Users meet up locally to
collaborate on programming
projects, share and have fun
Media-led learning event:
Stargazing Live by the BBC
television, focused on
astronomy and planetary
science
??
Glasgow Caledonian ‘Games
On’: Open online 3-week event
with themes related to the 2014
Commonwealth Games or
Glasgow, and Twitter activities

8. Event-Based Learning:
Why is it relevant?
Educational Trends, May 2016 8
• Focus that provides learners something concrete to
work towards, together with a sense of personal
engagement and excitement
• Encounters between amateurs and experts
• Potential to engage millions of people
• Possibility of making significant additions to the
body of knowledge

9. Competency-Based
Education:
What is it?
Educational Trends, May 2016 9
• Academic credits are awarded for specific skills and
thus allow for more flexible and personalised degrees
Approach to learning and teaching
more often used in learning
concrete skills than in abstract
learning

10. Flexible Option
(University of
Wisconsin, USA)
CBE Model
(Lipscomb
University, USA)
FlexPath
(Capella
University, USA)
Deakin Hallmarks
(Deakin
University,
Australia)
Competency-Based
Education:
Who is using it?
Educational Trends, May 2016 10

11. Competency-Based
Education:
Why is it relevant?
Educational Trends, May 2016 11
• Recognition of informal and non-formal learning
• Increased access to formal education for non-
traditional students
• Reduced student workload
• Opportunities for undirected activities outside the
classroom to become part of schoolwork

12. Metacognitive Learning:
What is it?
Educational Trends, May 2016 12
• It includes activities such as planning, monitoring
comprehension and evaluating progress.
Approach that fosters higher order
thinking involving active control
over the cognitive processes
engaged in learning

13. Metacognitive Learning:
Who is using it?
Educational Trends, May 2016 13
Exam Wrappers
(Queen’s University,
Canada)
Reflective Journals
(University of Brasov,
Romania)
Muddiest Point
(San Francisco State
University, USA)
Pre-assessments
(Virginia State University,
USA)

14. Metacognitive Learning:
Why is it relevant?
Educational Trends, May 2016 14
• Focus on knowing how to learn
• Better learning outcomes
• Adjusted teaching strategies
• Ability to analyse personal strengths, weaknesses
and study strategies that work (or not)

15. Activity: Trends in Practice
• Objective
o Analyse an example of one of the educational trends (adaptive
learning, event-based learning, competency-based education or
metacognitive approach to learning).
• Task
o Select the trend you want to work with.
o Find an example of an institution that is applying the trend (you can
use one mentioned in this presentation).
o Describe this example considering the following questions:
• What is the initiative about?
• What are the main challenges that arose during implementation?
• What are the results of this initiative?
o Share with other students in your team.
Educational Trends, May 2016 15