The Unified Training/Learning Paradigm (ULP - Unified Learning Paradigm) is a framework for training/learning. I believe that training and learning are concomitant, hence, I choose to go with the word 'Learning'. However, those who feel like looking at the other side of the coin can use the word training appropriately!
My objective in the next few posts is to provide an overview of the ULP and seek comments/suggestions and make these blog posts appeal to a wider audience. Please do read my earlier post "The Two Worlds we live in" to get the background or just go ahead and say what you feel/think so that we may travel together, along this path!
There are 4 tenets of the ULP. I call this the "4 I Model". Having used them several times in my training programmes over the last few years I am convinced about the efficacy of these concepts. However, the framework needs a lot more "muscle" to be used mutatis mutandis.
The 4 Is' are:
Tenet 1 (Instruction Rule): Participants and Computers in the Real and Virtual Worlds respectively, work based on Instructions. Please remember that ULP is a holistic concept and embraces both the real and virtual worlds.
Tenet 2 (Information Rule): Information is most useful when it is at the right place, at the right time, with the right people and in the right format.
Tenet 3 (Interface Rule): All communication (with a participant or a computer) happens across an Interface
Tenet 4 (Interaction Rule): No learning can happen without Interaction and all learning involves communication.
Before I exemplify how the 4 I model forms the basis of the ULP. Let me share some more thoughts about the ULP.
The Unified Learning Paradigm (ULP), uses it's own vocabulary and I would not want to turn-off readers who are entrenched in other Learning/Training Models and Methodologies. Hence, I will try my best to refer to other models and methods that I am aware of. But, in the event you see a resemblence to other models and methodologies do make me aware. Let me also assure you that these concepts have evolved over a decade and are not plagiarized!
Why is it called a "Unified" Paradigm?
The framework combines a number of isolated concepts and attempts to integrate them into a single cohesive unit.
Some Examples are:
* Within the ULP, technical (hard) and non-technical (soft) skills building is unified. So, we will not be having participants take up technical training devoid of soft skills training or vice-versa.
* Interactions that occur in the Real World are not treated distinctly from interactions that occur in the Virtual world. So, a learner's interaction with his/her iPhone (virtual world) is not considere less important to his/her interactions with a printed book (real world) or vice-versa - ULP integrates Real and Virtual Worlds.
* There are NO teachers and learners. This is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the ULP. There are only participants! There will certainly be a need to discuss and deliberate this aspect.
* Having been a Software Engineer and a Corporate Trainer I have seen a lot of similarity in Learning Practices and theory & Software Development methodologies. ULP unifies Software Engineering and Learning concepts. So, many readers may recognise the parallels between current Learning theories and Software Development methodologies in these posts.(E.g.: ADDIE concept in Learning and Waterfall Model in Software Development are similar in principle)
Concluding the Post...
How does a Unified Learning Paradigm come into existence? Does somebody need to create it? Does a Learner need to become aware? How does this whole thing of ULP start and how does one sustain it within a socio-economic system?
Next Post...ULP - An Introduction
My objective in the next few posts is to provide an overview of the ULP and seek comments/suggestions and make these blog posts appeal to a wider audience. Please do read my earlier post "The Two Worlds we live in" to get the background or just go ahead and say what you feel/think so that we may travel together, along this path!
There are 4 tenets of the ULP. I call this the "4 I Model". Having used them several times in my training programmes over the last few years I am convinced about the efficacy of these concepts. However, the framework needs a lot more "muscle" to be used mutatis mutandis.
The 4 Is' are:
- Instruction
- Information
- Interface
- Interaction
Tenet 1 (Instruction Rule): Participants and Computers in the Real and Virtual Worlds respectively, work based on Instructions. Please remember that ULP is a holistic concept and embraces both the real and virtual worlds.
Tenet 2 (Information Rule): Information is most useful when it is at the right place, at the right time, with the right people and in the right format.
Tenet 3 (Interface Rule): All communication (with a participant or a computer) happens across an Interface
Tenet 4 (Interaction Rule): No learning can happen without Interaction and all learning involves communication.
Before I exemplify how the 4 I model forms the basis of the ULP. Let me share some more thoughts about the ULP.
The Unified Learning Paradigm (ULP), uses it's own vocabulary and I would not want to turn-off readers who are entrenched in other Learning/Training Models and Methodologies. Hence, I will try my best to refer to other models and methods that I am aware of. But, in the event you see a resemblence to other models and methodologies do make me aware. Let me also assure you that these concepts have evolved over a decade and are not plagiarized!
Why is it called a "Unified" Paradigm?
The framework combines a number of isolated concepts and attempts to integrate them into a single cohesive unit.
Some Examples are:
* Within the ULP, technical (hard) and non-technical (soft) skills building is unified. So, we will not be having participants take up technical training devoid of soft skills training or vice-versa.
* Interactions that occur in the Real World are not treated distinctly from interactions that occur in the Virtual world. So, a learner's interaction with his/her iPhone (virtual world) is not considere less important to his/her interactions with a printed book (real world) or vice-versa - ULP integrates Real and Virtual Worlds.
* There are NO teachers and learners. This is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the ULP. There are only participants! There will certainly be a need to discuss and deliberate this aspect.
* Having been a Software Engineer and a Corporate Trainer I have seen a lot of similarity in Learning Practices and theory & Software Development methodologies. ULP unifies Software Engineering and Learning concepts. So, many readers may recognise the parallels between current Learning theories and Software Development methodologies in these posts.(E.g.: ADDIE concept in Learning and Waterfall Model in Software Development are similar in principle)
Concluding the Post...
How does a Unified Learning Paradigm come into existence? Does somebody need to create it? Does a Learner need to become aware? How does this whole thing of ULP start and how does one sustain it within a socio-economic system?
Next Post...ULP - An Introduction
