Monday, November 18, 2013

5 content archetypes



Here’s something that appeals to me, mainly because it seems like a very useful taxonomy. It comes to me via Stephen Downes’ website, OLDAILY, and he has re-posted it from David Armano’s page. Armano is a marketer, but his categories are useful for those focussed on education, I think.

He writes about five content archetypes:
  • Curated
  • Co-created
  • Original
  • Consumer-generated (Downes recasts this as “student-generated”)
  • Sponsored (recast by Downes as “board or department”)
From the perspective of the disciplines, these are important ways to think about content and how it is presented, e.g. via an LMS, for students.

Curated

One of the most difficult decisions a university teacher makes is the selection of materials that are listed in the reading list for a particular course. The question here is this: Which previously-published material (scholarly writing, web-based material, mass media) does my class need to consume to achieve the learning outcomes I have set for the course? Student time is precious. The selection of readings set for the course must be precise and on topic. If tangential material is included, make sure that students know it isn’t essential reading for the course.

Co-created

Learning is a constructivist activity, even in the positivist disciplines. The co-creation of content – through projects, online discussions, group work, or even peer mentoring – engages students in the act of learning.

Original

Sometimes, a teacher just has to write new material to get the point across.

Student-generated

In completing formative and summative tasks, students learn. No argument there.

Sponsored

University learning happens under the umbrella of the institution, and at times, the institution has announcements. Class management requires announcements. This too is content.

These categories of information can, I think, help in thinking through how an LMS site might be organized.