Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Understanding Learning: The Affective Context Model

I thought I would try using video to explain the Affective Context Model and what it means for learning. It lasts just under 10 minutes. Apologies in advance for my laughably childish drawing ability... oh, and the soporific voice-over.

12 comments:

Stephen Citron said...

I love it when learning takes place within informal small group interactions. Here everyone has the chance to contribute, which adds a powerful extra emotional dimension. And the many unplanned links between the people speaking and listening give ample opportunity for “odd” learning experiences.

Great presentation BTW Nick. I really liked how you "made it real" by removing spoiled sheets but then wowed us with "some you prepared earlier" for your journey to work.

Stephen

chris.b.thomson said...

Thanks, Nick.

I'm doing a bit of work on how digital storytelling (or just storytelling) is a viable method for teaching and learning at FE and HE and I've been struggling to come up with a credible way of explaining why emotion should be encouraged in the academic experience.
This model (and the way you've presented it) has given me fantastic route in - a way of describing something people know instinctively but sometimes struggle to explain.

Ben Betts said...

Loved it Nick, really did.

There's a book by a chap called Jonah Lehrer, The Decisive Moment, which pulls into a number of your points; mostly around how we use that "gut instinct" and around issues like the power of failure.

Clive Shepherd said...

Great work Nick. You're definitely adding value with this theory. The video is excellent, because it captures your enthusisam - as you state in the video itself.

Nita said...

Excellent! many thanks.

Nick Mitchell said...

Excellent work Nick. I've been working along similar lines for several years. The recent discoveries from the neurosciences and genetics are emphasizing the role of emotions in every decision (eg 'Human Givens' by Griffin and Tyrell). In the workplace context, these findings stimulated The Rules of Engagement white paper and the development of the CHOICE engagement model. In the learning context, they helped us see the need to develop a 'Learner engagement skills' course for trainers, now with more than 400 certified. (trainingfoundation.com)
We should meet up soon to pursue the discussion!

Simon Bostock said...

Astoundingly good. Thanks.

Dave Ferguson sometimes talks about the Heydad test - the most persuasive method of evaluating Learning Objectives I've seen by miles.

The basic idea is that you should be able to imagine learners saying something like, "Hey dad, look at me I'm helping my team win that new contract!" or similar.

I've said something similar when I talked about aiming for learning which is more like a microwave oven and less like Space Invaders (or video recorders, for that matter).

Yours is better, though. Miles better. Excellent.

Jason Turnbull said...

Great work Nick!

As a video game developer seeing many connections between great games and great learning I am looking at the connections between video games and e-learning all the time.

I have found this especially significant it making some more real connections.

Teresa said...

Love it. So simple and powerful. As always Nick you have cut through the c**p :)

Audrey Woita said...

Thank you, Nick. I enjoyed "watching" you talk. This is the first time I've viewed one of your videos and I was engrossed by your delivery, watching the words spelled the diagrams developed. Perhaps this affective context, reminding me of Captain Kangaroo's Magic Board from the US show in the late 60's, captivated my interest at the start. I did appreciate your direction and have fought hard to encourage scenarios, simulations and stories to be included in online learning only to have it disregarded as being too difficult to have relevancy for the client. thank you for your insight.

Lesley Price said...

Loved it Nick! Having read Donald Clark's latest blog on how he upset some of the audience at ALT-C and then listened to a very sqeaky recording of it via Elluminate...your video is a prime example of what he was talking about! Great way to explain quite an abstract concept :-)

Anonymous said...

Very interesting. Thanks Nick.

I can recommend the book "Switch - How to change things when change is hard" by the Heath brothers. The ideas in the book fit the Affective Context model very well.

Anders