It appears based on the data collected that psychomotor skills are not addressed in many of the apps or programs (only 6.3%). This may be because no one looked at those apps or there aren’t many out there (I didn’t really investigate this too much). The OER did highlight one for younger children that I thought was wonderful. Many children in today’s society come to school with the ability to print their names at some level. Some print well and others not so well and fine motor skills are refined over time through practice. With less emphasis on pencil and paper products children may lose out on the traditional methods of refining these skills. Programs that address this skill would definitely be useful in and out of the classroom.
I see an entrepreneurial opportunity here. With so many parents wanting their child to ‘get ahead and be the best’, targeting this type of program/app at this demographic seems like a no-brainer. Philosophically I am not in favour of this push with young children but it is definitely a business opportunity and something more constructive for young children to do than watch endless hours of “Paw Patrol”.
The future of PL to me is a product and a process. Learners would be able to access the tools to support their learning needs in a manner that is individualized to their specific requirements. This may be through the use of technology or as a blend of technology and F2F. PL needs to be responsive, remedial, evaluative and directive to the leaner’s needs. I think a PL that does not address all of the primary domains that the OER identified falls short of being a true PL.
