#bingelearning. The Netflix Generation.

Recently I realised that I had not watched more than a few hours of live TV all year. Only 5 years earlier I would have returned home from work to turn the TV on in time for the news (OK - maybe Home and Away at 5:30...) and the TV would have been on until I went to bed. Where has the 5 hours+ per night of TV watching gone? I would love to say solely into more productive pursuits, but mainly it has gone to Online TV streaming services. The interesting (exciting) thing is my 5 hour a night habit is now more like a 1 hour a night habit. I genuinely look forward to it and actually gain pleasure from it - a big shift from the 'flick through until I found the best of whatever's on' years.

I believe there are some parallels with teaching to my (our) new TV viewing habits;

Modern TV Watching	Modern Classroom Learning
Binge Watching. Viewers becoming so engrossed in a show they continue it for the entire day/week rather than stop watching after 45 minutes to move onto the next show.	Binge Learning. Students becoming so engrossed in a concept they continue it for the entire day/week rather than stop learning after 45 minutes to move onto the next lesson.
Flexible Viewing. Viewers watching content when it suits them through the use of on demand services. They can pause, rewind and repeat shows through the use of technology.	Flexible Learning. Students learning content when it suits them through the use of flipped classrooms and flexible timetables. They can pause, rewind and repeat learning through the use of technology.
Passion Viewing. Viewers get deeply involved in the shows they watch - they follow news feeds about them, tweet and blog. They make connections with other like-minded individuals to deepen their understanding of the show (e.g. GoT fever)	Passion Projects. Learners get deeply involved in the lessons they engage in - they follow news feeds, tweet and blog. They make connections with other like-minded individuals to deepen their understanding of the learning.
Personalised Viewing. Viewing habits are monitored and suggestions and recommendations given based on their individual interests and history of shows watched. Feedback after each show is seeked to better understand the viewer.	Personalised Learning. Students learning is monitored and suggestions and recommendations given based on their individual interests and history of learning. Feedback after each lesson is seeked to better understand the learner.
Viewer Agency. The viewer has choice in what they watch - they are not restricted to what’s on - they can make their own decisions around their viewing. The viewer is able to use technology to create their own show and share with the world.	Student Agency. The student has choice in what they learn- they are not restricted to what’s on - they can make their own decisions around their learning. The learner is able to use technology to create their own lessons and share with the world.

2014 Study...