A short video created by users of e-learning activities which expresses what e-learning means to them. When the video ends you will be able to select from the range of related videos in the playlist.
Some important Issues to consider.
Lack of engagement is an important issue as research suggests that some pupil’s find engaging with the technology available to them difficult (Jones, 1998, Tansley and Bryson, 2000). Assuming that a lot of time and effort has been applied to developing a learning platform this is a concern that must be investigated. Some researchers such as Veen et al (1998) go further and argue that virtual learning environments do not enhance the learning experience of the pupils’. As schools’ strive to comply with the requirements of the DFES 2005 strategy, ‘Harnessing Technology’, it is vital that these issues are addressed.
Typically feedback on the use of e-learning has gathered its data from the viewpoint of the course tutor or technical designer which obviously lacks input from the learners. Towle and Draffan (2008) state that the ‘learners’ voices are more like whispers, and their experiences and opinions are not heard by the wider community’. To investigate barriers to the use of e-learning communities then this issue needs to be considered whilst at the design. It is assumed that our learners are fully computer literate and confident users of technology but some academics (Keenan & Currant, 2006) suggest that many students favour a face to face approach. They also tend to favour environments that look familiar to them instead of using ‘old-fashioned’ VLE designs. Prensky (2001) and Oblinger (2003) take a different viewpoint and argue that today’s students are ‘digital natives’ of the ‘net generation’ who absolutely expect to use technology as part of their learning experiences. Research carried out by Sharpe in 2007 found that the most popular activities carried out online were the reading of learning materials and the access of library resources, the least frequent was the use of virtual worlds and gaming.
Summary
Distance learning can be challenging and, at times an isolating experience for some learners. Some students think that the online activities should be more interactive. The use of chat room’s is confusing if too many students are online at the time because too many ideas are being presented at the same time. Inconsistent layout of learning environments leads to confusion and lack of motivation. However, Salmon (2006) believes that that discussion-based electronic activities work well, as long as they are structured and focused.
Jolliffe et al. (2003) state that when developing materials for online usage the instructional strategies would need to include:
1. Pre instructional activities.
2. Information presentation.
3. Activation of Learning.
4. Assessment of learning outcomes.
5. Follow up and mediation.
If followed the diagram shown below would lend itself to the effective design of e-learning activities.
