HOW TO BUILD AN E-LEARNING COURSE MODULE I THE BASICS OF E-LEARNING
1.2. TRAINING IN E-LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. TARGET SKILLS
3
2. COURSE PROGRAMME
4
3. INTRODUCTION
5
4. WHAT IS E-LEARNING?
6
4.1. Distance Learning and e-Learning
6
4.2. Concept of e-Learning
7
4.3. Strategic components of e-Learning
9
4.4. Advantages of e-Learning
12
4.5. Obstacles to e-Learning
14
5. DESIGNING AN E-LEARNING PROJECT 5.1. Organisation of training in e-Learning
15 17
6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
59
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY
60
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
1. TARGET SKILLS
At the end of this sub-module you will be able to:
Define the concept of e-Learning; Distinguish e-Learning from other types of distance learning; Identify the main components of an e-Learning system; Identify the main advantages and disadvantages of e-Learning; List the main stages when designing an e-Learning project
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
2.
COURSE PROGRAMME
•
What is e-Learning? Distance learning and e-Learning Concept of e-Learning Strategic components of e-Learning Advantages of e-Learning Disadvantages of e-Learning
•
Designing an e-Learning project Organisation of training in e-Learning
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
3. INTRODUCTION The requirements brought about
by
globalisation
force companies to invest more in the training of their human resources as a
primary
factor
of
competitiveness. In this context, the creation of alternatives to traditional classroom training, that answer the demand to learn at a continuously increasing pace, originates new learning devices and forces rethinking some of the traditional concepts of learning.
On the other hand, the increasing number of Internet users demonstrates the significant changes in attitude during the past few years. These changes are apparent in the use of new technologies at the service of learning and this new approach to learning opens multiple opportunities, not only because of the use of more attractive resources for content transmission, but also because of its impact on the development of personal autonomy and creativity on those who learn.
In this sub-module, our goal is to put e-learning in the context of different forms of distance learning, explore its core concepts and components, and finally, provide an introduction to the design of an e-learning project.
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
4. WHAT IS E-LEARNING?
4.1. Distance Learning and e-Learning
The transmission of knowledge over distance is by no means a new idea. According to some sources, distance learning remotes back to the 18th century. However, the first forms of access to remote contents were basically unidirectional, from the content producer to the trainee, with no feedback possible In the 20th century, correspondence courses started to gain more popularity, and during the second half of the century, new technologies were adopted as a support for distance learning. This developed more interactivity in the assimilation of knowledge. However, it is necessary to distinguish the global concept of distance learning used to describe situations where learning does not require the presence of the learner or the instructor in the same physical space and at the same time, from the more specific concept of e-learning, which implies the use of information and communication technologies, as we will see further ahead.
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
4.2. Concept of e-Learning Elearning, which is also known by many other forms such as virtual training, or online teaching, has its roots in distance learning and may be defined as:
A process that allows transforming information into knowledge using information and communication technologies, both at the level of searching and providing information, and at the level of interaction between several participants.
Generally
speaking,
differences training
between
and
the
traditional
e-learning
are
essentially based on the physical resources available to the trainee and consequently, on the way contents
are
transmitted
to
facilitate their apprehension and assimilation.
In traditional classroom training, the trainer assumes the role of study and knowledge transmission stimulator, using the classroom as a physical space and resorting to traditional
instruments
(like
whiteboards, pens, projectors, etc.). In e-learning, existence
notwithstanding of
tutors
that
the
stimulate
learning, it is the online platform that serves as a physical carrier between trainees and the training entity. What is more, in e-learning the trainee
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
is the core element in the learning process, and its individual learning paths are built according to its personal learning needs and rhythms. In this perspective, the trainer assumes the position of a learning partner and stimulator. Built this way, e-learning is much more than a learning process based on new technologies and where instructors and students from remote places. By making the most of the Internet, e-learning adopts undoubtedly innovating elements and increases its potential. This translates into: • Diversity of tools and communication services between all the participants in the teaching-learning process; • Access to knowledge anytime, anywhere; • Dynamic, easily publishable and constantly updated contents.
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
4.3. Strategic Components of e-Learning
Despite the diversity of e-learning models used by different institutions and organisations, some common education guidelines can be drawn and summarised into five strategic components according to the scheme shown below:
Figure 1 – Strategic Components for e-Learning models1.
Materials
Trainer/Tutor
Texts
Knowledgable
Audio
Pedagogue
Video
Creative
STRATEGIC COMPONENTS OF E-LEARNING
Software
Facilitator
Multimedia
Interaction systems Informative
Technology
Assessment
Voice/Data
Trainees
Synch./Asynch.
Learning
Counselling
WWW
Systems
Self-study
Video/Audio
1
Source: Santos, A. Ensino a distância & Tecnologias de Informação. Lisbon: FCA, 2000.
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Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
The materials and contents that act as support for e-learning can be created and presented in different formats.
The
role
of
trainer/tutor
must
be
substantially different in an e-learning model. Besides having the necessary scientific and technical
knowledge,
the
trainer/tutor
must
monitor the learning process and pay special attention to the creation of more efficient strategies to stimulate the motivation of the trainees.
Interaction systems are comprised of tools that notify learners about eventual updates and mid-course assignments, advising as for the best e-learning method to follow and providing support on questions of a technical or pedagogical nature.
New technologies are obviously essential for implementing a course in e-learning. The applications
and
tools
available
allow
presenting information in a more attractive way, making the transmission of contents more interesting and effective.
Finally, assessment must be present at the different stages of the training in progress. When talking about assessment, we do not refer exclusively to evaluating the skills and knowledge developed by trainees, but also to the global assessment of the training course, and even to the evaluation of the whole training system itself.
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
The application of each of these components varies according to the inherent nature of each institution and the potentiality and feasibility of each component for each concrete case.
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Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
4.4. Advantages of e-Learning
E-learning presents a set of opportunities that should be efficiently explored, not only from the point of view of those who promote training, but also from the point of view of the participants, the trainers and entities that organize it.
Advantages for trainees and their companies: By encouraging self-learning, gives greater autonomy to the trainees stimulating their personal growth; It enables better time management and even accelerates learning, because trainees can advance through the course contents according to their own individual rhythms; It reduces travelling related time and costs and increases productivity that correlates with lesser absences from the workplace; Virtual communities can be created, integrating people from geographically remote locations with similar interests but different viewpoints.
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How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
For Training Companies: After implementing the course, the transmission of knowledge through elearning allows reducing some of the expenses and inconveniences related to commuting, facilities and training logistics; Enables the use of a wider range of materials and different interactive tools of communication, which translates into a high-quality final product; Allows training large numbers of people at the same time; Facilitates updating and customisation of courses.
4.5. Obstacles to e-Learning In order to optimise the efficiency of distance learning, it is important to take into consideration eventual obstacles that can be encountered in the process of designing and implementing a course of this nature. Some of the most significant ones are: 13 www.novaetapa.pt
How to Build an e-Learning Course
Sub-module 1.2: Education in e-Learning Environment
Initially, the costs of implementing an e-learning course are significantly higher compared to the costs of traditional learning, especially regarding the design of multimedia; From a pedagogical point of view, and since this type of learning also implies independent study periods, e-learning courses may lead to difficulties in selfmotivation while demanding more discipline and organization from trainees;
In
technical
terms,
since
the
software products installed on the user’s computer is unknown, problems related to the access to multimedia contents or the speed of image and video transmission may arise;
There can be some restrictions at
the level of developing social skills since it is lacking direct exchange of experiences; therefore, virtual communities should be encouraged and created; Some people may feel out of their comfort zones with e-learning, either because they don’t know much about it or because they don’t like the technologies it relies upon. For this reason, it is important to create more diversified and effective strategies to motivate learners.
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