e-learning: promise and pitfalls
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e-Learning: Promise and Pitfalls. EDUC 391 Web-based Technologies in Teaching and Learning Assignment 1 Sonia Yu. Definition and Features of e-learning. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
e-Learning: Promise and PitfallsEDUC 391Web-based Technologies in Teaching and Learning Assignment 1
Sonia Yu
Definition and Features of e-learning• Definition: Training or instruction delivered on a
computer (including CD-ROM, Internet, or Intranet) that is designed to support individual learning or organizational performance goals.
• Features: ▫ What: Includes content relevant to the learning
objective▫ How: Uses instructional methods such as examples
and practice to help learning▫ How: Uses media elements such as words and
pictures to deliver the content and methods▫ Why: Builds new knowledge and skills linked to
individual learning goals or to improved organizational performance
What about?
•Hybrid forms of e-learning? i.e. combine classroom in-person teaching with “e-learning” where instruction is conducted via computer medium
What about?• Learning
community?• How different is e-
learning community from a classroom community
• Learning in virtual community?
• E.g. Second life?
What about?Coursework, websites, blogs, chatboards?
What about?
Search engines,Wikipedia
What about?
•Social network sites
•Facebook, friendster
e-learning Promises• Practice with feedback
▫How “tailored” and how relevant is the feedback vs. classroom instruction?
• Collaboration in self-study▫Risk of self-study is the student might lack
direction and might go down the wrong path without teacher pulling him/her back
▫Collaboration is good, but hard to coordinate• Use of simulation to accelerate expertise
▫True, but maybe situation specific and more performance (esp principle) oriented
e-learning Pitfalls• Failure to define job knowledge and skills
▫True for all forms of learning?• Failure to accommodate learning processes
▫Maybe some day technology can take care of that? Will we have robots to replace teachers in school?
• Attrition▫Drop out rates may be higher, but e-learning
can also be more convenient for continuing education candidates
• Technological hindrance▫Computer performance, internet connection etc