Seeing as our whole reason for being here at eLearning4schools.net is eLearning we thought we would try to outline what we feel eLearning is all about!
First of all “what we think it is all about” is a very important statement as their are so many varying points of view.
This question normally elicits a variety of responses depending on the experience and background of the person involved. So, here are some definitions of e-learning on the Web found by Google.
We could write a long academic article covering all the different view points however we are all about cutting through the waffle and delivering useful information, guides and tips to you to make your job easier and save you lots of time to boot!
We believe eLearning simply means encompassing technology in the learning process whether it is in the delivery, activity, assessment or management of learning. The important point to raise is that eLearning is about Learning supported by technology.
eLearning can include Learning supported by:
- Hardware that assists in the production and delivery of digital resources such as video, audio and animation
- Use Mobile technologies such as mobiles, MP3 players, MP4 players and PDAs
- Software that helps produce content such as MS Powerpoint, Audacity, Photoshop, Gimp to name just a few
- Online tools and technologies to help create, deliver and present resources such as blogging, conferencing, searching, and social networking and sharing sites
- Help to manage learning and assessment from marking to analysis of data e.g. Sims
- Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) that can help combine a number of the above technologies
ELearning, therefore, could be achieved by using robots, programmable toys and interactive games; interactive whiteboards, the internet and digital photography; and by web-cast master classes, distance learning or on-line formative assessment. I feel the support for learning through real life experiences, for example communicating with real people in real time through video conferences, watching real experiments and videoing real-life experience are other significant contributions of e-learning. Its scope is infinite only restricted by our imagination and creativity.
ELearning not only encompasses hardware technology but also a multitude of opportunities presented by web technologies and services such as blogging, social networking sites and live streaming and broadcast services. There are also opportunities to make more use of commercial and open source software as well as mobile technologies. For a pictorial overview for my definition of eLearning please click here eLearning Overview
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March 22nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I believe that elearning can be used for students who are missing school due to things such as medical problems or pregnancy. Also, students who need a more restrictive environment than school can access learning this way also. This would save taxpayers a lot of money if we didn’t have to pay for a teacher to go out to the home each day and tutor the child. This way students would get real life teaching from the actual teacher.
March 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I believe eLearning goes far beyond simply using technology at distance for ease and to save money. Although this is definately a very real and useful way to use technology.
Pat, thanks very much for the comment in response…
I think technology far from giving the ability to exclude students from the school and place in a more restrictive environment and can act as a motivator and allow lesson to become more relevant, interesting and allow more choices for what we may refer to as “disruptive” students. Although again when it is necessary to remove individuals from the classroom (and believe me I have been there) then I can agree where have electronic resources available and have communication with the teacher of the subject it would be certainly useful.
ELearning is the use of any technology (be it software or hardware) to facilitate learning in, outside and alongside classroom and what me may call ‘traditional’ methods. A blended approach must be considered optimal and we should not alienate teachers (and I am one of them) by treating eLearning as a new word to simpley explain what we called in the 1980s and 1990s as Computer Based Training (CBT).