Stephen Downes

I like the way this discussion is framed and it is one of few real efforts to grasp the many different views people have on what we mean by 'learning' (let alone 'education', which is another matter entirely). Nick Potkalitsky sets up a series of 'if-statements', 'if learning is this..', 'if learning is that...', etc. My only criticism of this approach is maybe that he stops too soon - we could continue with new perspectives on learning for some time. Still - the point is made. He then points to three researchers - Philippa Hardman, Terry Underwood, and Leon Furze - working on different aspects of learning (Potkalitsky calls these 'stages' or 'levels', developing a "a complex, multi-phased and multi-dimensional learning process." That might be a little too inclusive for my tastes - not every account of 'learning' references something real of correct. Still, any attempt to comprehend the complexity is welcome.