With this, one very good example that i can think of, and which i am sure most of us are familar with is the Bb (Blackboard). We access this form of e-learning medium in order to retrieve our lecture notes, get the lastest update on our modules and even submit our work through the digital drop box. Likewise for Polk County Public School, e-learning has been a success as shown in the video below.
Which then leads me to this week's lecture on E-learning and virtual classrooms. Infact, for some of us, during our course of study in UB, we have encountered some modules which required us to participate in e-learning. SO, what is e-learning?
In simple terms, e-learning allows us to learn anywhere, and at any time as long as we have a properly configured computer.
Examples of e-learning include CD-ROM based, Network-based, Intranet-based or Internet-based. It also includes text, video, audio, animation and virtual environments which enables it to be a very rich learning experience that can even surpass the level of training you might experience in a crowded classroom. It's self-paced, hands-on learning.
HOWEVER, i do not neglect the fact that e-learning can suffer from many of the same pitfalls as classroom training, such as boring slides, monotonous speech, and little opportunity for interaction and thus not everyone is suited for such learning methods since we have been accustomed to the traditional way of learning in a classroom.
One very good example to illustrate this is depicted in this video clip deaturing Second Life Media Zoo, which uses Web 2.0 to create an interactive and advanced e-learning and virtual classroom environment.
Hence, perhaps we should consider this 10 tips on on how to be a successful online student!
1. Be open minded about sharing life, work, and educational experiences as part of the learning process.
2. Be able to communicate through writing.
3. Be Self-motivated and self-disciplined.
4. Be willing to "speak up" if problems arise.
5. Be willing and able to commit to 4 to 15 hours per week per course.
6. Be able to meet the minimum requirements for the program.
7. Accept critical thinking and decision making as part of the learning process.
8. Have access to a computer and a modem.
9. Be able to think ideas through before responding.
10. Feel that high quality learning can take place without going to a traditional classroom
Source: http://illinois.online.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/pedagogy/StudentProfile.asp
With this, i am sure many of us will thus be able to cope much better with e-learning. In fact, i am very sure that with technology advancing rapidly, the future e-learning will move on to even greater heights...
In fact, i believe that e-learning and virtual classrooms will be such a success with all the convenience and effortless way it enables us to reach each other and transfer information that the structure of traditional classroom may just go into extinction some day.
The future of E-Learning is truly influential for future classrooms. Although the presence of the lecturer's voice and actual visual sight still proves to be the most effective, if E-learning can further enhance this area of educating others, not only will students benefit from learning, but everyone else too, can experience a fruitful E-Learning experience as technology expands its capabilities.
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