Learning services-based technological ecosystems

Abstract

The gap between technology and learning methods has two important consequences: on the one hand, the fit of new technological advances and existing educational methods and practices is difficult; on the other hand, mature educational technologies and methods might not give an adequate answer to the demands and needs of society, underusing their transforming potential to improve learning processes. This study discusses the need for a new technological environment supporting learning services, and proposes the concept of the technological learning ecosystem as a solution to both problems. The educational ecosystems must be able to break the technological constraints of existing learning platforms and achieve an effective improvement of learning processes. Our proposal of educational ecosystems pivots around five specific lines of action: 1) a framework architecture that supports learning service-based ecosystems; 2) learning analytics for educational decision making; 3) adaptive knowledge systems; 4) gamification of learning processes; 5) semantic portfolios to collect learning evidences.