Digital learning - is relationship the missing link?

Much of the digital revolution in learning has been about scale and access. Whilst these are wonderful advances, we have been paying lip service to the value of relationship and the critical role relationship plays in learning. It could also be said this is reflected in the wider world, certainly in our political world.

Learning is optimised when we can challenge and be challenged, collaborate and problem solve, ideate and apply new concepts together. If you and I were in a formal course of learning together, or even just having a casual discussion about something we read, the interaction between you and I is what can transform this from being interesting information into real and applied learning.

There has been some work done on social learning in digital platforms of late with varying success, and like the casual discussion, which can lead to shifts in behaviour, mindset etc. it's a very hit and miss process. I'd challenge most implementations of social learning to demonstrate any significant results in measurable outcomes over that of other eLearning activities.

Even at this measure, we have a very low bar. Digital learning should be something we are looking at to extend the quality of learning outcomes and experience, not just access. We have entered into an era where ongoing learning is an integral part of our career/life. It is not just something that happens up to the age of 22. Some might call it K to grave. We need to be able to constantly dip in and out of formal and informal learning, and not just in ad hoc ways, but by design and with intent and purpose. Digital learning is the key to this, but the current models fall short.

Relationship based learning can provide a focus, through intentional design and platform development that delivers on the promise of digital learning. The data coming out of courses that focus on leveraging relationship in their design is considerable.

Here is one example of capability uplift for individuals during a 12 week course delivered by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia using a relationship based model:

(From - Professional Certificate in Asset Management Planning August 2018)

This is an extraordinary uplift across the cohort.

Likewise, data from a recent MIT digital course on leadership and innovation shows exceptional levels of engagement. From a cohort of 110 people in an 8 week course we saw:

4,450 posts; 25,989 views; averaging 260 views per person over the 8 weeks.

This is a significant data point. With an average of 30 days of activity from each person this means that every person was, on average, checking into 8 different discussions every day they logged in. Leading to a total of 260 discussion views on average by each person in the course.

This points to an exceptionally high level of voluntary engagement.  A significant reason behind the activity mentioned above came directly as a result of the relationship based learning model used in both courses.

This model places the learner's experience right in the middle of the design. The technology then helps to facilitate the collaborative experiences via personal, team, small group and larger group activities and assignments. All the while creating personal bonds that help to challenge each learner and builds a resilience base for the cohort as a whole.

I'm sure you have heard people who have completed a Masters (in anything) talk about the real value they got from the course were the relationships they built. With relationship based digital learning we can not only build relationships, we can build and support careers in a world undergoing significant change by connecting people with people, not people with technology.

Maybe our world as a whole could use a little more people connecting with people!