Module 1 – What is e-Learning?
Aim:
To introduce students to the concept of e-Learning and explore the history and components of e-Learning developments.
Students will set-up the technology framework that will underpin the development of their final project or e-Portfolio, including a weblog, a social bookmarking account, and an aggregator.
Assignment 1: Set-up technology framework
Due: Friday 24 August, 2007
Weighting: Pass / Fail compulsory task
Task:
• Set-up weblog
• Create Delicious account
• Create Netvibes account
These technologies will provide the basic framework for all work presented for assessment in this subject. Students will be required to complete a number of simple steps that demonstrate the ability to use these technologies to achieve set tasks.
Weekly class activities based on readings and research will underpin the ongoing development of the technology framework which will be assessed in the final project.
Activities included in this Section
1.1 Defining e-Learning
1.2 Glossary of Terms
1.3 Technology options
1.4 Resources: e-Zines & e-Newsletters
1.5 Set-up bookmarking and aggregation
1.6 Set-up weblog
1.7 Advantages & Disadvantages of e-Learning
Activity 1.1 Defining e-Learning
What is e-Learning?
Definitions of new terms are often influenced by their usage in common language – industry and subject matter experts will all offer their meaning on terminology that is evolving with market demands change.
Based on your current knowledge and experience: What is your definition of e-Learning?
e-learning – is the basis of learning/training through electronic means.
Compare your definitions with the following:
“e-Learning is instruction that is delivered electronically, in part or wholly – via a Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator, through the Internet or an intranet, or through multimedia platforms such as CD-ROM or DVD. Increasingly – as higher bandwidth has become more accessible – it has been identified primarily with using the Web, or an intranet’s web, leveraging the Web’s visual environment and interactive nature.”
Brandon Hall, nd, FAQs About e-Learning
http://www.brandonhall.com/public/faqs2/faqs2.htm
“Instructional content or learning experiences delivered or enabled by electronic technology.”
“A Vision of e-Learning for America’s Workforce”, ASTD,
June 2001
Readings:
Reading 1: Tsai, S. & Machado, P. 2002, “e-Learning, Online Learning, Web-based Learning, or Distance Learning: Unveiling the Ambiguity in Current Terminology”, eLearn Magazine, July.
http://elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=best_practices&article=6-1
Reading 2: Cher Ping Lim, 2001, “What Isn’t e-Learning?” TechKnowLogia, May/June, pp11-12.
http://www.techknowlogia.org/TKL_active_pages2/CurrentArticles/main.asp?FileType=HTML&ArticleID=267
Reading 3: Downes, S. (2005), “e-Learn 2.0” , eLearn Magazine online
http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=29-1
Reading 4: Taylor, Donald H. (2007) “It’s time to drop e-Learning” TrainingZone.co.uk , 11 July
http://www.trainingzone.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=170224
Review your earlier definition and understanding of e-Learning – now, based on the readings – has your definition altered in any way? Why?
Activity 1.2 Glossary of Terms
Read the article on the following website:
“e-Learning Alphabet Soup: A Guide to Terms”
http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art1_1.htm
Why do you need an e-Learning Glossary?
To know all different
Where do you start searching?
Online, in textbooks etc.
How do you judge their relevance and credibility?
Pretty relevant, but most websites aren’t very credible.
Record the URLs of Glossaries:
Wikipedia.org
Google.com
NB: These URLs will be added to your social bookmarking site later!
New terms I have learnt:
There is a forum set-up in UTSOnline for you to share new words/terms – or to ask the group for definition & clarification of meanings.
Activity 1.3 Technology Options
The following are some of the components used in e-Learning – can you add to this list?
Synchronous activities
Asynchronous activities
Video
Online quizzes
Email
Chat
Discussion forums
Web conferencing
Interactive TV
Simulations
Multi-user games
Virtual worlds
Tick the components you have had some experience with.
Can you define them?
If not – use one of your glossaries from Activity 1.2 to find out what they are!
Throughout this subject your lecturer will attempt to arrange a variety of exercises that will employ some of these components.
Methods of delivery:
In your work context:
What experience have you had with e-Learning?
Online induction training for work.
Describe the methods of delivery you have experienced?
At home on personal computer.
How do these relate to the definitions of e-Learning outlined in the earlier readings?
Activity 1.4: Resources: e-Zines & e-Newsletters
What is an e-Zine?
Online magazine.
What is an e-Newsletter?
An electronic newsletter sent to you via the internet
How do you judge their relevance?
Where do you start searching?
How do you subscribe?
On a website and sign up for it
Useful URLs:
e-Learning Magazine
http://elearnmag.org
Training Magazine
www.trainingmagazine.com
Learning Circuits – ASTD magazine
www.learningcircuits.com
Others…..?
Activity 1.5 Bookmarking and Aggregation
What is social bookmarking?
Social bookmarking is a web-based application that is similar to your Favourites list in the browser on your computer
How could it be used in this subject?
Go to the Subject Documents tab in UTSOnline and open the Technology Framework folder.
There is a document called “ Delicious “ – follow the guidelines to create a Delicious account.
What is Aggregation?
An aggregator is a software application that allows you to subscribe to other websites (sometimes called webfeeds) and collates them for you to read at your convenience.
Sometimes called a feed reader eg. Google Reader.
What is RSS?
Really Simple Syndication
How can these be used in this subject?
Subscribe to updates for this subject.
Go to the Subject Documents tab in UTSOnline and open the Technology Framework folder.
There is a document called “Netvibes” – follow the guidelines to create a Netvibes account.
Activity 1.6 Weblogs
In this subject each student will be using a weblog to publish all their work – including assignments.
A wiki has been set-up to assist you with this process.
Refer to UTSOnline, in the Subject Documents tab, in the Technology Framework folder for a link to this resource.
Activity 1.7 Advantages & Disadvantages of e-Learning
Based on your readings and research so far in this subject –
What do you believe are some of the Advantages of e-Learning?
Quick and easy.
Done at the comfort of your home.
What are some of the Disadvantages of e-Learning?
Expensive
No human interactions
System failures
We will review your comments throughout the course – make additional entries or amendments whenever you find information that you believe is an advantage or disadvantage to e-Learning.
Read:
“The Benefits and Drawbacks of e-Learning”
http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art1_3.htm
