E-learning plays an integral part in current
education. It adds an interactive and exciting learning experience with endless
learning opportunities available. E-learning is defined by JISC (2007) as;
“Learning facilitated and supported through the use of information and
communications technology.” Prensky (2001) explains the importance of E-learning
by illustrating how the students currently being taught in classrooms minds
differ to those of their predecessors. He explains how they (the students)
“Think and process information fundamentally differently,” from growing up in
an age where technology is a fundamental part of life. Students are so used to
using technology in their everyday lives that Prensky argues they need to be
taught using this technology, through e-Learning, to help them better grasp
what they are being taught. It assists them to learn in a way they understand,
and in a way that can stimulate their minds. Throughout this reflective
synopsis, a number of E-learning tools will be discussed by evaluating their
effectiveness in learning and teaching through learning theory and current
educational framework. The implications of each tool for future use in a learning
environment from a pre-service teacher perspective will also be further
evaluated.
The importance of legal, safe and ethical
practice when conducting E-learning in the learning environment is imperative
to the students’ success in learning. When both students and teachers are using
E-learning, ensuring legal, safe and ethical practice will guarantee the safety
of the learners and help them to understand the importance of this practice in
their work. Websites such as the Australian Government’s NetAlert website (2007),
assist teachers in ensuring safe, legal and ethical practices are carried out
when using online spaces for teaching. Queensland Government websites such as
Education Queensland’s Web Publishing for Schools (2012) gives teachers and
schools guidelines to follow to ensure they are legally carrying out online
teaching and protecting students from online dangers. The website states when
conducting online activities for students, “Schools must consider a range of
issues to protect students’ well-being and to ensure that departmental and
legislative requirements are met.” Legal, safe and ethical practices are
especially important when students are using websites, blogs and electronic
mobile devices as these are most susceptible to strangers outside of the school
community accessing them. Students must always ensure they are referencing any
information they are taking from the Internet properly and ensuring all
settings when on websites are set to private. This will stop other people
outside of the school community accessing the students’ work.
When using E-learning in education, it
is important to consider the learning theory supporting the educational
activities being conducted. Knowing the learners learning style can establish a
good foundation for understanding how to use E-learning to support learning.
Felder and Soloman emphasize the importance of understanding the learner’s
learning style. They believe;
“Teachers
should strive for a balance of institutional methods (as opposed to teaching
each student according to their own preference) – This provides balance so
students feel comfortable doing what their preference is but are also
challenged to try different learning styles so it opens them to new ideas and
helps with problem solving.”
Furthermore, using a range of learning
theory when creating E-learning activities and experiences for learners can
ensure the student is introduced to a range of learning methods. Using blogs as
an E-learning activity can assist in allowing the learner to use their own
personal learning style, as well as a range of different learning styles to
learn. For example, if the learner is a Visual learner, they can incorporate
pictures and videos into their blog, if the learner is a Aural leaner, they can
include music and sound into their blog, and if the learner is a solitary
learner, they can work alone on their blog. While the students are not limited
to only using their own learning style when using blogs, they are able to
incorporate their own and experience using others. This is demonstrated in my
E-learning blog, where a range of different learning styles are explored
through incorporation of different elements such as video, pictures and texts into
the blog. Similarly, different learning theory can be incorporated in
E-learning through teacher construction. For example, Social Constructivism can
be used in E-learning by asking students to reflect on previous experience and
work with others to gain new knowledge. This is evident in the Week 2 and 3
Wiki activities. It is reflected in my E-learning blog through stating
“Multiple students can contribute to them allowing for collaboration.” Overall,
the use of learning theory in creating E-learning experiences for students can
ensure each students is learning by balancing the way they learn best with
others learning styles, resulting in optimum learning engagement.
Collaborative construction of knowledge
helps to shape students’ learning through E-learning engagement. Students are
able to work together and use current knowledge to build on their ideas with
the help of other students. This encourages higher order thinking by
challenging the students to expand on their current knowledge through problem solving
and thinking differently. Sir Ken Robinson (2010) explains the benefit of
collaboration between students in stating; “Collaboration is a key operating
principle for development in the 21st century.” Collaborative
construction of knowledge is evident in the my E-learning blog through
reflection on the Wiki activity involving De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats, as well
as week three’s reflection on creating a Wiki. Both exercises involved
collaboration of ideas from a number of different students to build on knowledge
and encourage higher order thinking. This gives students a chance to use Web
2.0 technology to collaborate in an online environment. Week fives reflection
of ‘Using Wiki’s for teaching and learning’ also presents an opportunity for
collaborative construction of knowledge through E-learning. This program allows
students to add information collaboratively and present this information either
online or in an in-class presentation.
Using Bloom’s Taxonomy within
E-learning will allow students to enhance their learning through higher order
thinking. Bloom’s Taxonomy demonstrates the importance of gaining,
understanding and creating new knowledge. Churches (2009) explains the use of
Bloom’s Taxonomy within E-learning by stating; “This taxonomy is not about the
tools and technologies, these are just the medium, instead it is about using
these tools to achieve, recall, understanding, application, analysis,
evaluation and creativity.” By using appropriate E-learning tools to teach in
different ways, new opportunities are created for students to develop higher
order thinking skills as stated in this theory. E-learning programs such as
websites allow students to develop their higher order thinking skills by
increasing their knowledge to the creating phase where they are designing and
producing their own ideas in an electronic environment. Creating a website
allows the students to design their own concepts using web based tools. The
creativity involved develops students’ skills by self taught exploration of the
tools available to them and applying these tools to create their own original
concept. In my E-learning blog, I have mentioned the opportunities that
creating websites can bring to students in stating; “They have the opportunity
to show their (the students) creativity and what they have learnt.” By using
the methods and theory presented in Bloom’s taxonomy to create learning tools
through E-learning materials for students, it will enhance their higher order
thinking skills allowing them to increase and showcase creativity.
E-learning has provided endless new
learning opportunities within education for students and teachers. Teachers can
now reach new levels of student interaction through a wide range of online and
electronic learning enhancements. Through assessment of a number of varied
E-learning tools collated in my E-learning blog, the suitability of using
E-learning for teaching when used with learning theory, learning framework and
important concepts in learning, it is clear that the use of E-learning in
education is highly beneficial to the learning of students. E-learning allows
students to collaborate effectively to create new ideas and solutions and
achieve higher order thinking by enabling students to reach the creative phase
in their learning. E-learning also allows students to learn using their
specific learning style and learning needs as well as experience other styles
of learning to enhance their overall abilities. If E-learning is conducted
while ensuring safe, legal and ethical practices are being carried out, the
overall use of E-learning in the learning environment is a benefit to both
students and teachers.
Word count: 1463
Arnold, S. (2013) Sarah’s e-Learning Blog. Retrieved from http://www.saraharnoldselearningblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/week-3-creating-website.html
Australian Government (2007) NetAlert: A parents guide to internet safety.
Retrieved from http://www.pcw.vic.edu.au/Our%20School/Parents%20Guide%20to%20Internet%20Safety.pdf
Churches, A. (2009) Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy. Retrieved from
http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/file/view/bloom%27s+Digital+taxonomy+v3.01.pdf
Education Queensland (2012) Web publishing for schools, Retrieved
from http://education.qld.gov.au/web/schools/index.html
Felder, R.M. & Soloman, B.A. Learning Styles, Retrieved from http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Learning_Styles.html
JISC (2007) e-Learning pedagogy programme. Retrieved from
Prensky, M. (2001) Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon. MCB University
Press
Robinson, K. (2010) Collaboration in the 21st
Century. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63NTB7oObtw
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