Does your institution use education technology effectively? Or are you stuck in the past?
What Is A Learning Ecosystem?
A crucial “systems thinking” component of a learning ecosystem is this: Integration trumps functionality. In other words, if 85% of your desired functionality can be achieved with a fully integrated tool, or 97% of your desired functionality can be achieved with no connection to other parts of the ecosystem, use the former and avoid the latter. (Of note, this is why the RFI / RFP process can be so detrimental to an organization’s longitudinal well-being from a systems perspective.)
What Is A Learning Ecosystem? (10 Minutes)
A learning ecosystem is an omni-channel, multi-modal system that includes all necessary support, resource, and context options by which people learn. In a formal context, such as a college or university, the learning ecosystem is typically a mix of people, technology, and other infrastructure, leading to certifications and/or degrees for students. But all of these stakeholders require balance. The key to an effective learning system is stasis. The term ecosystem becomes crucial in this context as it connotes interdependence. In any ecosystem, stasis is reached when interdependence of a (typically) complex system or network is balanced between organisms and their environment.