The Higher Education Learning Framework has been created as a guide for organisations, teachers and students to help frame thinking about teaching and learning design in higher education.
Alexandra Osika, Dr Stephanie MacMahon, Associate Professor Jason M. Lodge, and Professor Annemaree Carroll from The University of Queensland’s Learning Lab explore each of the seven principles of learning through a series of short articles published as a collection in the Times Higher Education (THE) Campus.
The second principle, contextual learning, brings the context to the learner and delves into how this makes the learning experience more engaging, motivating, and meaningful to students.
Context counts. Learning in context can help students appreciate the relevance of disciplinary knowledge and skills, increasing their motivation and engagement. Meanwhile, learning that takes place outside the context in which knowledge and skills are to be applied can limit or reduce a student’s capacity to transfer and use that knowledge in the real world or in a new environment. While contextualising learning can present challenges for educators and designers of learning experiences, leveraging context can enhance the learning experience and learner outcomes.
