The 4 Links Model for Digital Learning

Digital learning is an instructional practice that effectively uses technology to strengthen a student’s learning experience. It is based on technology that all the time is in progress, it emphasizes high-quality instruction and provides access to challenging content, opportunities for learning anytime and anywhere, and individualized instruction to ensure all students reach their full potential to succeed in college and a career.

Because of all the technology changes and innovations, there is a need for a model that organizes the Digital learning process into a chain of links.

The 4 Links Model for Digital Learning, based on the Significant Individual Learning model (SIL), was developed by Nir Golan, educational and leadership expert, in order to help teachers to develop the uniqueness of their student in the Digital Age.

There are 4 links in the Digital Learning process:
The links create the Digital Learning Chain as ongoing never-ending process.

1.   Motivation: Need definition

·      The learner identifies and reflects him/her need: the need is leading him/her to do what they did not do previously.

2.   Action: Transformation from Acting to Behavior

·      The learner performs the action for the first time. The learner then describes the action, helping him/her to improve the repeated action and transfer it into standard behavior.

3.   Conceptualization: Norm & Value definition

·      Understanding by the learner of the benefits of turning the behavior into the norm in order to reinforce the behavior in a social context.

·      The value becomes the guiding principle to making future decisions connected to the behavior; helping decide when and how to use this behavior.

4.   Reflection: Self identification & Teaching the other

·      The values assist in redefining his/her unique identity. The learner knows how to describe their newly unique identity and explain what their unique contribution is to those around them.

·      The learner becomes the teacher. The learner uses his/her personal experience as a role model and teaches the other using his/her own unique identity.

Each link contains 2 skills or abilities:

1.   Motivation: Need definition
Digital Morality & Global Awareness

2.   Action: Transformation from Action to Behavior
Problem Solving & Proactive creativity

3.   Conceptualization: Norm & Value definition
Communication & Collaboration

4.   Reflection: Self identification & Teaching the other
Critical Thinking & Tolerance to diversity

Details of the skills or abilities:

1.   Motivation: Need definition
Digital Morality & Global Awareness

·      Digital morality: a person with special knowledge or ability who performs morality the digital tools and media.

·      Global awareness: a conceptual understanding based upon an applicable knowledge of global and cultural perspectives.

2.   Doing: Transformation from Action to Behavior
Problem Solving & Proactive creativity

·      Problem solving: the ability to use cognitive processing in order find a solution to a difficult question or situation.

·      Creativity: the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patters, relationships, and to create meaningful new ideas, the ability to make new things or think of new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.

3.   Conceptualization: Norm & Value definition
Communication & Collaboration

·      Communication: the process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else.

·      Collaboration: to work with another person or group in order to achieve or do something, to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor.

4.   Reflection: Self identification & Teaching the other
Critical Thinking & Tolerance to diversity

·      Critical thinking: Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from.

·      Tolerance to Diversity is the ability to recognize the differences and commonalities among people from which they can begin to understand each other, respect it, and be tolerated.

Digital learning encompasses many different facets, tools, and applications to support and empower teachers and students, including online courses, blended or hybrid learning, or digital content and resources, so we need some guide lines or steps in this process. This way is the only way to survive our repeatedly changed world. The power of the 4 Links Model for Digital Learning is the integration of all the skills.