Abstract
As educators endeavor to hone their facilitation prowess and students traverse the learning process, valuable lessons can be learned from the most unlikely of sources. Vikings, while perceived by many as barbaric, actually possessed a number of characteristics that can truly aid educators and students in establishing a foundation for improved outcomes in online classrooms. Throughout this chapter, nine specific characteristics associated with Vikings will be identified along with a new perspective in how they can be applied in a classroom setting. You may be surprised to find your inner Viking calling you to become that warrior you've always wanted to be!
TopOpen Educational Resources (Oers)
How many of you have heard that knowledge is power? Do you believe that to be true? Some of you may feel as though the statement is true, but for this author, the real knowledge comes from being able to apply all that one knows. People need to be able to open themselves up to this possibility.
McGovern (2005), author of an article entitled Turning Knowledge into Power, believes otherwise. Profound statements are made in the article, yet perhaps there are a few points to ponder.
We are in an era of knowledge abundance. Traditional management theory focuses on knowledge scarcity. We need new management strategies to deal with so much communication and so much knowledge. (McGovern, 2005, para. 1)
They say knowledge is power but, if that were the case, academics would rule the world. Knowledge in itself is not power; rather the application of knowledge is where the power lies. They say a little learning is a dangerous thing. Well too much learning can lead to paralysis and a lack of decisive, timely action. (McGovern, 2005, para. 2)
Time is the diamond in the dirt of the knowledge society. We are constantly trying to find time. Knowledge is only useful if we act on what we know, so we need to balance the time we spend knowing with the time we spend doing. (McGovern, 2005, para. 9)
Still, one needs to be able to access information and learn from it before every being able to apply it, and there are many avenues for such access. Whether choosing to purchase a hardbound book or attend a college class or even a workshop, these are more traditional options which can be somewhat costly. Nonetheless, advancements in technology coupled with that made to the World Wide Web have led to relatively new options known as OERs beginning to surface in the new millennium (Brons, 2017; Hu et al., 2015). As noted by Hu et al. (2015), an OER is an educational resource based upon technology which is open to users for non-commercial purposes. OERs encompass “social media, search engines, Wikis, and a wide variety of emerging tools including Apps, games, and interactive web pages” (Brons, 2017, p. 68). All provide learning opportunities which are free and open to all (Brons, 2017).
OERs are sparking changes in the ways in which students learn and educators teach, and the evolution continues (Brons, 2017). It is through these OERs that one can experience a newfound sense of freedom (Harris & Schneegurt, 2016). The information that was once only available through paid sources is now available free of charge, in multiple formats, and across multiple platforms and devices (Harris & Schneegurt, 2016). With the advent of these new resources, research continues via the Open Educational Resources Research Hub (OERRH) to explore the impact such resources are having on both learning and teaching practices (Farrow et al., 2015). By having OERs a student may already have some prior learning on the subject being taught when they enter into an actual classroom. Indeed, they are able to research any topic at almost any time free of the classroom or a teacher.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Cooperative: Involving a group working towards a common goal or a person working independently on a task that will support or help the group.
Smart: Having or showing intelligence.
Friendly: Being open to others in order to forge friendships.
Brave: Showing courage or willing to take calculated risks.
Storyteller: A person who is able to tell stories, and help other to visualize, based upon knowledge and/or experiences.
Bold: Exhibiting a willingness to enter into the unknown to seek out and try new things.
Strong: Possessing muscle strength or strength of character.
Enlightened: Possessing a rational, well-informed outlook.
Vigorous: Possessing both strength and energy to go above and beyond minimal requirements.
Viking: A person of Scandanavian descent that traveled the seas and plundered Europe in the 8 th through 10 th centuries.