In this Blog posting I will discuss E-Learning, what is E-Learning.
Secondly I will give an overview of how E-Learning enhances learning based on knowledge of learning theory.
Thirdly I will provide a discussion of my teaching context.
Lastly I will analyse four tools, Wiki’s, Images, Videos and PowerPoint, discussing their features, positives, negatives and value in my teaching context. During the discussion I will refer to previous blog postings on these topics and blog comments.
E-learning is all forms of electronically supported teaching and learning, its processes and applications include Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classroom opportunities and digital collaboration.
E-Learning is supported with Information Communications Technology (ICT) and is only beneficial when appropriate learning approaches are taken and serve as specific media to implement the learning process.
ICT’s are any digital device such as, computers, internet, cameras, iPods etc.
E-learning has evolved since computers were first used in education, the type of computers have changed over the years from slow devices to laptops and handheld portable devices.
There is now a trend to move towards blended learning services, where computer-based activities are integrated with practical or classroom-based situations.
Students can use these technologies to access, integrate, manage and evaluate information. ICT supports planning solutions, organizing ideas, thinking, visualizing the invisible, modelling and to develop new understandings. Common ICT’s used to enhance and engage learning in the classroom are, blogs, wiki’s, video, images, power point, podcasts.
Researchers have developed a number of E-Learning frameworks for example, the TPACK (Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge) framework, learning engagement theory, although most educators decide to use their own frameworks for ICT design.
Lastly E-Learning is an important tool for teaching because it caters for different learners, different learning styles. For more information on learning styles please see a previous post: Week 1 – Learning Styles.
A learning theory describes how people learn, helping us understand the process of learning. There are four learning theories these are: Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism and connectivism. Behaviorism focuses on the objectively observable aspects of learning and that learning is the acquisition of new behavior through conditioning. Characteristics of behaviorism are that learning is manifested by a change in behavior and that the environment shapes behavior. Cognitive theories focus on brain-based learning and look beyond behavior, it considers how memory works to promote learning. Constructivism see’s learning as a process where the learner actively builds new ideas or concepts based on current and past knowledge or experience. Also known as social constructivism, this is when individuals engage socially and collaboratively about tasks or shared problems. Connectivism is used in computer science and is based on the aspect that knowledge exists in the world. Connectivism has been named the learning theory for the digital age because it explains the effect that technology has on how people live, learn and communicate. For more information on Learning Theories please see a previous post: Week1 Learning Theories.
My current teaching context is an Early Childhood setting, I work in a long day care centre as a Group Leader in the baby’s room 0-2 year olds. Programming for my context is quite different to a preschool room, it is focused on development of skills such as, language, fine motor and gross motor, cognitive, social and emotional. This year the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) a national curriculum was introduced, I have begun to include and implement the framework throughout the programme. Each week I develop a program liked to the EYLF outcomes, children’s interests, development and individual observations.
The first tool I am going to discuss is Wikis. The definition of a wiki is; a website that allows guests and users to create any number of interlinked web pages, the user can modify, edit, remove and add information with various editing tools using WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) text editor. Wikis are powered by wiki software and are used as in collaborative learning or as a communication tool. Wikis may exist to serve a specific purpose such as the collaborative encyclopaedia, Wikipedia.
A defining characteristic of wiki technology is the ease with which pages can be created, updated and edited. Most also keep a record of changes made to the pages meaning the author can revert to an older version of the pager. To participate in a wiki page or discussion you do not need to be a member they are open to alteration by the public, open purpose wikis accept content from all users. But private wikis require users to login in to edit pages and at times even to read them.
Critics of publicly editable wikis argue that they can be easily tampered with and vandalism can be a major problem. Another big problem is Malware; this is where users add links to sites hosting malicious codes. Wikis lack security and content control allowing users to post offensive content. Once the material is recognised it may be removed but it can sometimes go unnoticed for a period of time. I have further discussed the pros and cons in a previous post titled Wikis, please take a look.
I learn via distance education, I do not have much contact with peers, wikis provide us with a social network and collaboration tool to share ideas, work together and communicate.
In my current teaching context Wikis would not be a useful tool as the children I teach are too young to read or even use a computer, but after researching I have discovered many ways wikis will be a valuable teaching tool in future contexts.
Second tool is Microsoft PowerPoint, PowerPoint is seen as the industry standard for delivering interactive multimedia presentations. PowerPoint is a wonderful tool for learning, it can add a new dimension to learning and accommodate all learning styles. If used properly it can be one of the most powerful tools in the classroom and provides an effective approach to both student work and classroom instruction.
In the previous blog post for this topic titled: PowerPoint in the classroom, I have discussed PowerPoint in depth and identified its importance and how it can be used effectively in a teaching context. Please note also the blog comments for this post.
Not only can educators create and present slide shows but the students can use the tool to create and present their own presentations.
PowerPoint’s features allow the user to include, videos, images, animations, text and audio, this allows us to share recent information and media, which can engage and increase student involvement and interaction.
This tool may be more useful in my teaching context as it allows the younger children to look and listen, if the appropriate content is used this can be an effective learning tool.
The third tool is Digital Images, which I found very interesting and discussed in detail with examples of photographs and how they may be used in the classroom in the post: Resizing Images – Mobaphoto. Please also refer to the comment list.
Images come in all shapes and forms and may be used in the classroom for unlimited reasons, such as, to illustrate and show examples of what you are discussing during a lesson when you can’t visit or see the real thing, to lead into follow up activities, to stimulate writing activities etc. In my context images could be used to inspire discussion, to enforce, develop and extend language, to recognise and identify objects, encourage critical thinking and enhance visual communication. Brain research identifies the first three years of life to be crucial for a child’s learning and that children’s brains at this young age are more active then the brain of an adult. As an educator we control the content of the image and decide when and where it should be used and if it is appropriate for use in the classroom. Images can be found online, Google images is very easy to use and allows the user to search for specific images and save them onto the computer or you can use photographs taken with your own camera, whatever you choose the opportunities of use with images is endless and can be effective as with any other tool when used appropriately.
Lastly, digital video which is commonly used in classroom presentations. There is substantial research that promotes the use of video in the classroom as a resource for supporting learning. According to a recent teacher survey 94% of educators have effectively used video in the classroom this year and frequently.
As reviewed in the post: Digital Video, I discussed how video engages and energizes students through sight and sound.
The ability to stop, start and rewind videos enables the educator to challenge the students, elaborate and debate on what they may have seen or envision teaching with the past such as great historians.
In my teaching context I would use educational videos or television shows targeted at early childhood for example; play school or the wiggles.
In a context with school children there are programs available that allow students to create their own movie such as Microsoft Moviemaker, which can be used for student presentations and to encourage students to use different forms of multimedia, also developing technological skills making students more confident in technology and providing future skills.
As some of the tools suggested show collaborative learning, please refer to the following links to comments shared between peers on blogs as an example of how collaborative learning can be accomplished:
Overall technology is evolving each day, new tools, new devices and new products are made readily available and should be used in the classroom to enhance, engage and develop learning.
(Please refer to a seperate post including the referece list for this synopsis)
