E-Learning a Definition?
by techagogy
I am currently working on a school strategy document for E-Learning. My reason for doing this is that I feel that schools need to understand why and where they are using technology for learning and that E-Learning is seen as a part of their delivery rather than a bolt on or addition.
Then I came to the first page, and I needed to define E-Learning, in order that the concept is understood so that the strategy could fit into the definition.
Here is my first draft of a definition of E-Learning:-
E-Learning is the use of technology to support learning, to enhance current pedagogy and to support teachers and learners to create a social network of learning.
E-Learning creates the opportunity for collaborative, co-operative, individual and personalized learning, driven by technology, social interaction and the learning theories of constructivism and social constructivism. E-Learning is there to support pre and post learning situations, but not to interrupt the face to face social learning interaction with the teacher, but to blend learning with collaboration, technology, and the human.
I think that this definition has changed from E-Learning being external and additional, to the integral and essential. To enhance the essential relationship between the learner and the teacher, and to allow these roles to be flexible and interchangeable.
E-Learning provides the opportunity for the teacher to change , to become the learner, leader, partner, friend, ally – human and connected.
Could E-Learning be defined thus :-
E-Learning = Blended Learning + Social Networking + Social Constructionism + Humanism?
we moved away from the term ‘e-learning’ and moved to ‘BlendEd Learning’ below is the definition that we use
‘BlendEd Learning is realised in teaching and learning environment where there is an effective integration of different modes of delivery, models of teaching and styles of learning as a result of adopting a strategic and systematic approach to the use of technology combined with the best features of face to face interaction.’ (Krause, 2007)
Not sure if it is useful for you or not
Hi Mandy,
Thanks for this information, my initial thinking about blended learning in is traditional sense was that it was still teacher directed, the aspect of the technology in the “E” – allows the roles to flex, and also introduces the aspect of learning from socialisation, indeed the Web 2.0 technology promotes this.
I think that the F2F aspect is much too valuable to loose, especially when technology interferes with the “special relationship” between the learner and teacher (whoever that is at any point in time). Many secondary schools have trouble using technology as they perceive it to be disruptive, and unwanted forced extra. And yet many of those teachers who do engage, engage within a traditional pedagogy of teacher driven content delivery. Again there are also many teachers engaged with a co-operative, collaborative framework who could benefit from the efficiency gains that the technology offer within the classroom – “Minimise in – Maximise out”.
Do you have any more information on the reference that I could look at?
Jonathan
[…] more here: E-Learning a Definition? « Techagogy Blog 2-0-technology, directed, […]
If only I had a quarter for each time I came to techagogy.wordpress.com! Incredible writing.
You would be very poor indeed