Education is in a state of flux – transitioning from traditional architectures and practices to new ecologies of teaching and learning influenced by the tremendous social and technological changes of our times. This course explores three pedagogical paradigms: “didactic,” “authentic,” and “transformative” learning. It takes a historical perspective in order to define the contemporary dimensions of what we term “new learning.” It prepares participants to make purposeful choices and link particular theories/instructional approaches to individual and group learning goals.

This module explores some of the key terms of education: formal versus informal learning; and the distinctions that might be made between the terms "education," "curriculum," and "pedagogy." It also addresses the question of the differences between education as an art and a science.

In this module, course participants analyze two foundational paradigms of modern education, which we term "didactic" and "authentic" approaches.