Archive for Emerging Technologies in e-Learning

E-learning and the World Turning

{ February 27, 2009 @ 12:02 am } · { Emerging Technologies in e-Learning }
{ Comments (1) }

I just read an article titled Emerging Technologies in E-Learning, which is about the uses of technology and education.  The interesting thing about this article is that it stresses on how technology helps advance communication skills, rather than isolating.    Some of the topics include:

  • Digital Storytelling
  • Online Meetings
  • Communities of Practice
  • Personal Broadcasting
  • Wikis
  • Educational Gaming
  • Extended learning
  • MultiPlayer Online Games
  • Extended Learning
  • Webcam and Videos
  • Mobile Learning

A lot of us are familiar with these or even use them at work.  Currently, my company has been using the webam to conduct meetings so there is more face to face interaction but without the travel.  The term Smartmob has been used more and more to describe a collective action organized through an interface, such as cell phones or an email blast.  Some examples include the zombie take over on market street in san francisco or the slo mo shoppers in HomeDepot.  There are a lot of great examples on youtube.

Of course, the most famous is the 1999 anti-WTO protest in the Phillipines organized through the use of cell phones.  Although this can be used for revolutionary or organizational purposes, it can also be used for educational purposes as well.  Sometimes its nice to get a reminder about an assignment that is due soon or a notice that class has been cancelled.

E-learning does not specifically mean online learning, but also collaborative learning, virtual learning, and other types of learning that include an instructor and a student not in the same physical enviornment.  Clark and Mayer (2003) chose the word e-learning and described its functionality:
[T]he “e” in e-learning refers to the “how”—the
course is digitized so it can be stored in electronic
form. The “learning” in e-learning refers to the
“what”—the course includes content and ways to
help people learn it—and the “why”—that the
purpose is to help individuals achieve educational
goals. (p. 13)

I had a lot of benefit through e-learning because working full time can interfere with trying to make it to a classroom on time  and it helps you work through an arranged schedule.  I was able to complete courses on my own pace and not have to take time off work.

The only problem is, it makes it more difficult to come up with excuses of why you don’t have assignments in on time.

Sorry, my dog ate my hard drive.