The Agile Learner – Using New Technologies and Social Networks to Make Learning a Lifestyle, not an Event

Abstract

Rapid social change and the burgeoning pace of information creation now allows, and perhaps even requires, people to adopt a lifelong learning mind-set. It is estimated that the amount of information present in our world doubles every 18 months today, an amount that required 25 years to amass in the recent past. Traditional educational models have not kept pace with these changes, and are struggling to maintain their identity within a continually evolving milieu.A new model for learning, borrowed from the fields of information and communication technology (ICT) and software development is being proposed that may help learners more readily adapt to the rapid pace of change. Agile Development was originally designed to promote greater efficiency in a transformative technical environment. Agile Development was unique in its approach to change because it placed a higher value on people and interactions over processes and tools. In addition it promoted a fluidity of learning by advocating for a rapid iteration of ideas in a changing environment and a focus on concrete outcomes. Throughout the past decade, educational practices have begun to mimic ICT growth patterns, and as such may benefit from an adaptation of the Agile Development Model applied to education practices. The Agile Learning Model is being proposed to increase efficiency and help learners to more quickly determine their own learning needs, build their own learning cohorts and determine their own learning outcomes.