TV as a Habitat for Learning in the Ecological Learning System
Bo Chang
As one of the public pedagogical sites, Television (TV) has been studied from different perspectives. The purpose of this study is to discuss how TV serves as a habitat for learning in the ecological learning system. The author argues that TV as a habitat provides an exciting, entertaining, dramatic, and social environment which stimulates ecological learning characterized as complex, dynamic, changeable, spontaneous, plural and uncertain. Inspired by TV programs, the author provides concrete suggestions about how to support ecological learning in informal and non-linear environments. This paper draws ideas from the disciplines of media, popular culture, and ecology, and introduces educators to innovative ways of teaching and learning in informal and non-linear learning environments.
Keywords: Interactive learning, informal knowledge exchange networks, dramatic, informal and non-linear learning environments, ecological learning, technology-aided learning, entertaining and learning