Ok, we need to acknowledge that online learning can quite often be rather unproductive due to the over reliance on technologies that fail to work effectively. I would like to remind you of an online class I attended on Thursday 15th April where the lecturer's microphone was misbehaving and as a result the intended learning couldn't take place as planned.
Refer to the following statement be Ted Clark, "My sound dropped out etc." (http://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_184348_1%26url%3d)
This type of learning is always going to be at the mercy of internet connections (fast or otherwise slow), microphones that are not being recognised by certain software and anything and everything else which makes up an electronic system designed to allow people to communicate.
"Technology can be a blessing or a curse" (http://www.grayharriman.com/e-learning_advantages.htm#2) and another major problem is the internet bandwidth available. In other words, the internet is still a relatively slow way to communicate and present a class (i.e. learning materials, discussions etc.)
I can recall an eluminate course I attended through Kangan Institute last year which was a complete disaster because my brand new Macbook didn't like the bigpond modem I was using and kept 'dropping out'. In the end I gave up. Would probably have preferred a face-to-face class instead...much more reliable and effective don't you think?
References:
(http://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_184348_1%26url%3d)
(http://www.grayharriman.com/e-learning_advantages.htm#2
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Phil, perhaps you are making a point about the disadvantages of e-learning in this post...but just in case you don't actually want URLs pasted as text, you can...
ReplyDelete...when writing a post, highlight a piece of text (eg. "Technology can be a blessing or a curse") you can then click on "Link" in the toolbar and paste the relevant URL (eg. http://www.grayharriman.com/e-learning_advantages.htm#2).
Then, once you publish, the post should read a little easier - like this:
"Technology can be a blessing or a curse" and another major problem is the internet bandwidth available.
You make some interesting observations about the limitations of e-learning Phil. In my own research for my discussion, I came across many similar ideas. It is one of the major problems with synchronous e-learning, that is, learning that imitates face-to-face but which occurs online.
ReplyDeletePerhaps face-to-face learning is more effective than the type of e-learning you describe, but there are many different types of e-learning that are not affected by these issues. I used this definition of e-learning and synchronous e-learning. What you are talking about in your post is just a very small part of e-learning; in fact, it is a very small part of synchronous e-learning.
Although there are ‘teething’ problems with the Skype chat sessions in CyberEd, there are many benefits: being able to attend ‘class’ at a time that suits, discussing content with Ted even though he may be on the other side of the world and being part of a community which includes people from many parts of the world who are all brought together by the possibilities of e-learning.
I definitely see your problems and understand them (I will address the same issues in my debate over the next few weeks). I just think that a broader definition of e-learning is needed as there are so many components that do not suffer from the limitations you discuss.
I would even argue that what I am doing now is a type of e-learning...
Micah
I would agree with Micah that there are definitely advantages to online learning. Not just distance factors but the opportunity to engage with a wider community with different views, opinions and experiences. Ive definitely seen this in the classroom with my students: real-world connections to people, experts, teachers and peers are an opportunity I can't give them face to face in a classroom.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil,
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point about eLearning. I've had technical difficulties when I was on my placements, worst timing ever! The dvd player didn't work and then i tired to connect my laptop to the projector and that didn't work. Luckily I was well prepared and continued on without any ICT. This goes to show that you can't solely rely on technology. Yes, its good when it works and when used correctly, but things always seem to wrong. Due to my debate I have come to understanding that eLearning technologies when used correctly can facilitate, even enhance learning. I don't think the debate should question the use of computers in the classroom, but rather how do we tie in computers with our current way of teaching practice to increase student learning. How can we use both elements in a effective way?
Thanks for all your comments guys. I guess in the end there are ways to overcome technological issues and benefit from online learning. If we only had one or two skype sessions per semester and both were affected with line drop outs etc. we would probably get no benefit from it, however, week to week classes do provide the difference. A course which relied on a one off session would need to seriously think more about a reliable face-to-face class.
ReplyDelete