elearning

toc (e-Learning & Communication Model)

=History=

European universities at the beginning of the 20th century were the first time distance learning was put into practice. The method of learning and teaching soon changed in the 1950s when technology started to change. The inventions of the television, radio allowed lectures to be broadcasted to a larger audience around the world. The technique of distance learning cut down costs but lacked in the communication sector because there was no longer a two-way communication conversation that could be taken place between student and teacher. The lack of interaction soon changed information television to be known as “educational programming.” By the 1970s people believed that distance education had no future. However by the 1980s, with online billboard systems (BBS) and e-mail had brought back the idea of Distance Learning.

The term “e-learning” was developed in the early 1990s with the growth of the Internet, which allowed for distance communication. The technology of communication allowed for interaction between student and teacher. Since then e-learning has altogether changed and has greatly enhanced the future of education around the world (Williams).

="Classroom Structure"=

Sender
e-Learning has enhanced teaching and communication techniques to individuals who are unable to attend traditional class. This allows the sender (professor) to interact with students in a more organized manner, also they can effectively teach hundreds of students with less time and energy then traditional class rooms. Now the sender can communicate to the receiver faster and more conveniently.

Receiver
Students are the receiver in e-Learning and they are waiting for information so they can convert to knowledge. It is very convenient for students who are very busy and don’t have the time attend class. Since they can access the information anywhere, they can choose their learning environment. Also they can ask questions instantly and don’t have to wait for office hours. It’s great for users with disabilities because they can customize the learning process, for example they can use personal style sheets to increase the font size for great user accessibility.

Message
In the e-Learning example the message is the actual information that the teacher transmits and the medium is the internet connection. Information can be retrieved just before it is required, rather than being learned once in a classroom and subsequently forgotten. The message is clear and direct since it is in electronic form. The message can not get lost because it is easy to retrieve and organize. Also the internet has unlimited storage capacity. The Web-based products allow instructors to update lessons and materials across the entire network instantly. This keeps content fresh and consistent and gives students immediate access to the most current data.

Context
In e-Learning the physical context is the actual environment the professor or student is in. The sender can choose wherever they want to teach and the receivers can choose wherever they want to learn. This is different then the tradition atmosphere where individuals have no choice. The social implications are that the receiver may not get the social contact they need to survive in society that they can receive in a classroom setting. They are isolated in their own world and may not be healthy to their social well being. The Temporal context is not an issue anymore as messages can be conveyed electronically reducing time and space.

=Aspects of E-Learning=

Advantages
Save time and money. Consider how much your company spends in sending people to training—airfare, hotel bills, phone calls home. All those pricey meals on the company tabe-Learning eliminates costs by allowing a specialist in Sacramento to train an entire group in Singapore without leaving the office. It also offers more accessibility to the instructor and more flexibility for the student. Many universities and colleges also offer distant education where students do their work online and earn their credit via the Internet which saves them time from commuting to and from their school. This is especially beneficial to students who work often or pregnant teens/young mothers who can't leave home too long.

Disadvantages
e-Learning relies on technology. If a country does not have computer or telephone access, e-Learning is impossible. Furthermore, to gain better efficiency of e-Learning, the infrastructure of internet usage must be well-built with an affordable cost like in Canada. There is also a problem with the digital divide with respect to access of the tools and resources needed for e-Learning. Lack of technology is not the only problem, but rather lack of skills to use this technology is a major problem with e-Learning. For distant education, there is a lack of communication between teacher and student if the student is too lazy to check the daily messages or to do their work. One disadvantage is that this allows the student to procrastinate and fall behind since no one is there to check up on them.

Challenges
e-Learning tends to isolate students physically, which can have negative effects on team building and sociability. Students with an aptitude for verbal expression may suffer in the virtual classroom. Those who feel shy about speaking up in a lecture hall may be more likely to ask their questions in this environment. Students who get frustrated with the technology may lose faith. Employees having to learn on their own time can add to the workload of an already overstressed population. Finally, the time and money you save with travel expenses may be spent just on getting the company's e-Learning program up and running.

=Research=

Research about e-Learning shows us that "between 40,000 and 1 million K-12 students across the nation are enrolling in online courses these days" (Weeks, 2004). It is projected that at the end of this school year there will be over 1.2 million students enrolled in online courses. Although these numbers are staggering, research generally focuses on the results and retention of information of the students. Based on meta-analysis research, it was concluded that there was no difference in results or retention in students who took online courses and those who learned in face-to-face classrooms. Due to these results and the increase in online schooling/courses, governments have taken note and begun budgeting towards better online programs and frameworks. They justify this by stating that these online courses develop a stronger workforce at a much faster pace. As we all know, in this day and age everything is about efficiency and time, therefore any programs or courses that offer us this opportunity will be expected with open arms. But, as noted in the articles I researched, "virtual schools" should be integrated very carefully into the social system. Like anything else, they need a "getting used to" time, where the public is able to slowly warm up to the idea of online courses. Otherwise, it can result in a sudden loss of values and principles that are of relevance to society; this can occur without the knowledge of anyone.

=CCT205 Wikispaces Links=


 * Digital Divide
 * Digital Library
 * e-Books
 * e-Commerce
 * e-Health
 * e-Mail

=Works Cited=

"Elearning picture." 2005. Lamolina. <[|Source]>

Weeks, D.J., Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Research on E-Learning is Emerging. Vol.10 (2) Created: Winter 2004.  Accessed: February 25, 2006.

Williams, Matt. __E-Learning: History and Prospects__. Available from [|http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:jRpld2wF3YgJ:www.e-ducation2005.com/ewb_newsletter_04_10.pdf+e-learning+history&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=6] [accessed at 26 February 2006]. (Back to Human Communication and Interaction Page)