Biography of An E-LearnerBiography of An E-LearnerELN 104 Lesson 2, #5ELN 104 Lesson 2, #5

Hope Manross Hope Manross

May 29, 2010May 29, 2010

HOPNX13501@mail.riosalado.edHOPNX13501@mail.riosalado.eduu

E-Learner CharacteristicsE-Learner CharacteristicsGoals for LearningGoals for Learning

““Digital Natives”Digital Natives” Informal – “social Informal – “social

learning” learning” Balancing Act – need Balancing Act – need

convenience & choiceconvenience & choice Discovery Learning – Discovery Learning –

“doing” – engagement, “doing” – engagement, taste for taste for experimentation & experimentation & “wow”“wow”

Multi-culturalMulti-cultural Careers “the thing”Careers “the thing”

““Digital Natives” Living On-LineDigital Natives” Living On-LinePast Educational ExperiencePast Educational Experience

Computer games, Computer games, social networking, I-social networking, I-Tunes, mobile phones Tunes, mobile phones and texting, blogging, and texting, blogging, posting, etc.posting, etc.

Special Skills & Special Skills & Talents Talents Techno Savvy – “try it, Techno Savvy – “try it,

it’s cool” it’s cool” Ability to multi-task Ability to multi-task Advanced scanning Advanced scanning

skills skills Skilled at processing Skilled at processing

even when information even when information flow interruptedflow interrupted

““How We Think and Learn” How We Think and Learn”

““It is now clear that as a result of this It is now clear that as a result of this ubiquitous environmentubiquitous environment and the and the sheer volume of their sheer volume of their interaction, with it,interaction, with it, today’s today’s students students think and processthink and process information information fundamentally fundamentally differentlydifferently from their predecessors . from their predecessors . . . “ (Mason & Rennie, 2008) . . “ (Mason & Rennie, 2008)

““What We May Think & Learn” What We May Think & Learn”

“ “ . . . . . . Research into the Research into the neuroplasticity of the neuroplasticity of the brain suggest that there brain suggest that there may be an may be an actual actual change in the brain of change in the brain of youngyoung people people who who have spent hours of have spent hours of their growing period as their growing period as screenagers gaming, screenagers gaming, interacting on-line and interacting on-line and creating online content.” creating online content.” (Rennie & Mason, 2008) (Rennie & Mason, 2008)

Learning Preferences Learning Preferences

Interacting with Interacting with technology and technology and social media social media

Interactive or Interactive or networked networked activities activities

Learn from pictures Learn from pictures or video or video

Teamwork oriented Teamwork oriented

Expectations of InstructorExpectations of Instructor

Expertise and Expertise and knowledgeknowledge

Use technology Use technology Multi-dimensional Multi-dimensional

learning learning Structure & contextStructure & context Make it engaging – Make it engaging –

entertaining and entertaining and exciting! exciting!

Learning, A Balancing Act Learning, A Balancing Act

Work Family

Leisure Schoo

l

Learning, A Balancing Act Learning, A Balancing Act

Work

FamilyFriend

s

School

The Educational

CHALLENGE

Health?

e-Learning SOLUTION:

Resources & Tools

Set Own Schedule & Pace

Learn Anywhere Anytime

24/7 On-Line Support

Live Chat Rooms

One Stop Shopping Answers

Accredited On-Line Degrees

Scholarships

Internships

Career Counseling

Rem

ovin

g

Ob

sta

cle

s

Assessment

s

Debt

Removing Obstacles to LearningRemoving Obstacles to Learning

Fit learning into work Fit learning into work and family life and family life

Prepare for next job in Prepare for next job in the comfort of home – the comfort of home – no time lost commutingno time lost commuting

Get needed support on-Get needed support on-line anytimeline anytime

Build on-line Build on-line relationships through relationships through discussion boards and discussion boards and chat rooms chat rooms

Get help in financial Get help in financial assistance to cover assistance to cover cost of tuition and cost of tuition and books books

e-Learning SOLUTION:

Resources & Tools

Set Own Schedule & Pace

Learn Anywhere Anytime

24/7 On-Line Support

Live Chat Rooms

One Stop Shopping Answers

Accredited On-Line Degrees

Scholarships

Internships

Career Counseling

Rem

ovin

g

Ob

sta

cle

sAssessment

s

What Else Are They Advertising?What Else Are They Advertising?e-Learners.com and educationconnection.come-Learners.com and educationconnection.com

College education as a “hedge” against College education as a “hedge” against losing your job in a tough economylosing your job in a tough economy

““Career Stimulus Package” – Career Career Stimulus Package” – Career CounselingCounseling

““Earn My Degree Social Scholarship” - $4KEarn My Degree Social Scholarship” - $4K ““Advisors trained to help you find the best Advisors trained to help you find the best

fit school and degree”fit school and degree” Test Drive College OnLine Test Drive College OnLine Military Education Benefits Guide Military Education Benefits Guide Blogs and Webinars – for answers Blogs and Webinars – for answers

http://www.testdrivecollegeonline.comhttp://www.testdrivecollegeonline.com(How Assess E-Learning Readiness)(How Assess E-Learning Readiness)

Requirements: Requirements: Pass 20 question Pass 20 question

College Assessment College Assessment U.S citizen over 18 U.S citizen over 18

years of ageyears of age GED or High School GED or High School

Diploma Diploma Not in default on a Not in default on a

student loan student loan Not currently Not currently

attending college attending college

Web 2.0 MarketingWeb 2.0 Marketinge-Learners and Education Connection Sitese-Learners and Education Connection Sites

Facebook sites - “Networks of e-learners” Facebook sites - “Networks of e-learners” Connect through “channels” (rap music, social Connect through “channels” (rap music, social

networking, video sites) used by young adults - networking, video sites) used by young adults - “Get Connected for Free” “Get Connected for Free”

Posts – student issues addressed by site reps – Posts – student issues addressed by site reps – referrals to e-Learning and Education Connection referrals to e-Learning and Education Connection sites and blogs (mini ads) for more informationsites and blogs (mini ads) for more information

Student testimonialsStudent testimonials Links to other blogs – inspirational messages and Links to other blogs – inspirational messages and

sites of interest to userssites of interest to users Messages about earning potential – college Messages about earning potential – college

education education

Room To GrowRoom To Grow

Shorter attention span Shorter attention span More susceptible to More susceptible to

distractiondistraction Slower reading speed Slower reading speed Lower reading Lower reading

accuracyaccuracy Lack of reflection Lack of reflection ““Cavalier attitude” Cavalier attitude”

toward quality of toward quality of sourcessources

How Social Media Helps How Social Media Helps BLOGS and Social Networking Sites

build self-expression, build self-expression, reflection and writing reflection and writing (influence) skills while (influence) skills while encouraging feedback encouraging feedback create user generated content, show progress and encourage problem solving and collaboration

GAMES and SIMULATIONS

build problem solving and build problem solving and critical thinking skills by critical thinking skills by encouraging experimentation encouraging experimentation

PODCASTING and YOUTUBE

supplement reading lists to help in comprehension

WIKIS and e-PORTFOLIOS

Have learners compare/contrast different social media sites to build Have learners compare/contrast different social media sites to build critical thinking about resource qualitycritical thinking about resource quality

Building a Learning Foundation On-LineBuilding a Learning Foundation On-Line

Goal Setting

Planning

Setting Priorities

Time Management

Self-Discipline

Persistence

Learning From Mistakes

Implications for e-LearningImplications for e-Learning DesignersDesignersDesign for User Created MeaningDesign for User Created Meaning

Know background and level Know background and level of studentsof students

Exploit student’s social Exploit student’s social networks networks

Know Web 2.0 Tools and Know Web 2.0 Tools and select select bestbest tool for tool for instructional and instructional and communication need communication need

Design for trust, flexibility, Design for trust, flexibility, structure, freedom, tool structure, freedom, tool variety and collaboration variety and collaboration

Understand cultural context Understand cultural context of topicof topic

Understand cultural context Understand cultural context of student/teacher of student/teacher relationshiprelationship

Assessment – create Assessment – create multiple paths to success multiple paths to success

The Choice: Profit or Non-ProfitThe Choice: Profit or Non-Profit

FRONTLINE: college, iFRONTLINE: college, inc. | PBSnc. | PBS

This was of special interest to me because I have taken classes at Grand Canyon University and hold a degree from the University of Phoenix.

ReferencesReferences““Characteristics of e-Learners”, Retrieved May 23, 2010 Characteristics of e-Learners”, Retrieved May 23, 2010

http://www.slideshare.net/secret/jF7ITXxW1MioaXhttp://www.slideshare.net/secret/jF7ITXxW1MioaX

““Christine, An On-Line Student,” e-Learners.com Commercial, Retrieved May 23, Christine, An On-Line Student,” e-Learners.com Commercial, Retrieved May 23, 20102010http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZRIwesEn9Uhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZRIwesEn9U

Education Connection, Retrieved May 23, 2010Education Connection, Retrieved May 23, 2010http://www.educationconnection.comhttp://www.educationconnection.com

Education Connection Commercial Music Video, Retrieved May 23, 2010Education Connection Commercial Music Video, Retrieved May 23, 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFVTVhs2cMohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFVTVhs2cMo

Education Connection on Facebook, Retrieved May 27, 2010Education Connection on Facebook, Retrieved May 27, 2010http://www.facebook.com/EduConnectionhttp://www.facebook.com/EduConnection

eLearners, Retrieved May 23, 2010eLearners, Retrieved May 23, 2010http://www.elearners.comhttp://www.elearners.com

eLearners on Facebook, Retrieved May 27, 2010eLearners on Facebook, Retrieved May 27, 2010http://www.facebook.com/eLearnershttp://www.facebook.com/eLearners

ReferencesReferencesEmpowerment Tour 2009, Retrieved May 27, 2010Empowerment Tour 2009, Retrieved May 27, 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk_VNoaUX38http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk_VNoaUX38

Mason, Robin and Rennie, Frank (2008) E-Learning and Social Networking Mason, Robin and Rennie, Frank (2008) E-Learning and Social Networking Handbook: Resources for Higher Education, pp. 8-15, 62-80, 109-113 New Handbook: Resources for Higher Education, pp. 8-15, 62-80, 109-113 New York, New York: RoutledgeYork, New York: Routledge

““The Professor,” e-Learners.com Commercial, Retrieved May 23, 2010The Professor,” e-Learners.com Commercial, Retrieved May 23, 2010http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI6B7OcJdawhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI6B7OcJdaw