When you think of E- Learning you would probably immediately
picture yourself sitting in front of a computer taking a class. With so
much technology evolution in this era, E-Learning is not simply studying in a
computer in your house or a library. Today technology's creativity has
gone beyond just computers; now we can also use MP3 players, podcasts, blogs,
and much more to take an online class.
Our generation is very well equipped with up to date technology,. In the present you can see almost 80% of the people (college level) with a
Smartphone, PDA or MP3 players in their hands. You are using these devices
to either send text messages, send emails, check pictures or interact
with other people. Now these devices are the tools being used for
E-Learning by giving you better access to online classes everywhere and
at anytime. And with Internet being more easy to access, now you can
almost do this anywhere, we now even have busses equipped with Wi-Fi; airports,
cafeterias, restaurants and even fast food restaurants, too. Pretty soon the
Internet is going to be everywhere all around the world, and with all the mobile
tools provided to access it, it is going to be better for more people to get
educated.
Students can now
download podcasts of course lectures and professors’ audio and study notes to
their PDAs, smartphones or MP3 players to review any material online whenever
or wherever they are available. They can also review any information
available in their professor’s class, blog or syllabus while on the road.
Students can also text message or e-mail classmates or professors with their
devices to set up an appointment or to meet for a school project or many other
things related to their classes. These devices can also be used to take notes, record a class if its allowed by the professor, or even
take pictures or record a video for a presentation as
well.
Examples of learning Technologies in today's environment are:
- Electronic Portfolios
(ePortfolios)
- Electronic performance Support
systems (EPSS)
- Personal digital assistants
(PDAs)
- MP3 Players
- CD-ROM
- Websites
- Web 2.0 tools
- Discussion and bulletin boards
- Collaborative software
- E-mail
- Blogs
- Wiki
- Chats
- Wiki
- Computer aided testing
and assessment
- Educational animation,
simulation, and games
- Learning Management Systems
(LMS)
- Podcasts
In conclusion there many devices available now in the market that
gives us easy access to internet anywhere that we can easily take a class and
be in a different place, zip code or a different country.
Sources:
http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/are-you-ready-mobile-learning
http://people.howstuffworks.com/elearning12.htm
http://www.about-elearning.com/e-learning-technologies.html#.UVHlfRy-nng
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-learning
There really are alot of ways to stay connected and get information. I also typically think of "e-learning" as taking an online class, but I suppose it could apply to any form of learning we engage in using IT. Whenever you need information you can simply look it up, thanks to the internet, and like the article says, the internet is availible everywhere now.
ReplyDeleteAfter your presentation, my definition of E-Learning has been expanded.
ReplyDeleteI really wish some of my professors would use more of the technology available to them. Additional lectures online would be quite valuable especially if you have to miss a class.
I will attest that receiving email to my phone has changed the way my education works. I am able to receive reminders about assignments or know that a class has been cancelled in seconds when away from a desktop.
Technology has helped me tremendously as a student. Even for this project, being able to communicate via e-mail has been very helpful. It makes it easier than having to call or having to get everyone to meet up to talk about the project, especially since I commute to Charlotte. I really like the idea of being able to download a podcast of a teacher's lecture. This would be very helpful if an emergency came up, and I was unable to attend class. Also, really liked the presentation - I never realized that Moodle was used in so many different places!
ReplyDeleteLindsay Laws