Education 2.0 & 3.0

The answer to the question in the “click bait” title is – yes of course we do, we most definitely need the role, but do we still need the title?

In 2014 Santanu Vasant wrote an article in jobs.ac.uk identifying the broad nature of the role and the broad background and expertise of role holders so I won’t go into any detail about what a Learning Technologist (LT) might be as you can read that article linked below as a starting point.

https://blog.jobs.ac.uk/education/teaching-learning/what-is-a-learning-technologist/

My experience is that Learning Technologists often have significant technological and pedagogical expertise. I know from personal experience the value of working with fantastic “learning technologists” and they can be key to really successful learning experiences.

As an instructional designer, I’ve had my fair share of blank stares when I tell people what I do for a living. E-learning? Instructional design? When I talk about my job I may as well be speaking in tongues. If you’re reading this article, I’m guessing you’ve been either on the giving or receiving end of this kind of interaction. Let’s take a few minutes to break down what instructional design (ID) is, who’s involved in the ID process, and why it’s an important part of e-learning development.

The higher education landscape is shifting and institutions are facing a decline in overall enrollment. Rather than opting for a traditional classroom experience, students today have come to expect greater flexibility in deciding when, where and how to learn. In fact, it is predicted that by 2019 at least 50 percent of all classes will be delivered online and that percentage will only continue to increase. To adjust to student expectations and keep enrollment up, higher education institutions must offer online courses or blended classrooms to compete with other colleges that already have those options.