Hello Jank,
I will briefly focus on e-learning in a school environment, which
should help answering your question, and then move on discussing a
work place environment.
Recently, there was a very interesting report on local TV [1] of a
school that partly switched from blackboards to e-learning (or, to be
more precise, added e-instruction tools to the traditional line of
tools).
A math teacher was using geometry calculation software on laptops in
the class-room. He said the most important part in teaching is for the
students to actually reproduce the thought patterns by their own
understanding, and that no tool could help making this abstract
thought process easier. But he also said the modern tools could enrich
the learning by providing means to effectively experiment, setting
different parameters with fast results.
A student was interviewed and said that she would always first work
out the problem on paper, only then turn to the computer to check the
actual results of a certain thesis.
There is another part to learning using computers, and also, using the
Internet: students are not only learning on the current subject, but
they also learn how to use computers, and how to use the Internet for
research. For some students, this might come naturally or resemble
what they already do at home; for others, like those who don't have
the needed hardware equipment at home, this can be crucial for their
education in those matters.
Now, to move on to the work place:
eLearning: Designing Tomorrow's Education, 2 2002 (by the Commission
Staff of the European Communities) [PDF]
http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/elearning/sec_2002_236_en.pdf
"In the work place, greater emphasis is being placed on cost savings
and on flexible, just-in-time education and training, which empowers
the worker and provides the necessary skills and competence for
rapidly changing business needs. In this context, e-learning is
proving to be very popular as cost-effective solution (...)
e-learning is seen as an important enabler for adult education, with
increasing emphasis on the importance of informal and non-formal
learning. New opportunities appear as the technology becomes a
facilitator for sharing resources, creating communities of learning
and communities of practice."
Especially the part of sharing resources fits very well with a
technological environment, like for example an intranet where
everybody can connect to data provided by you.
Let me give you a work scenario from personal experience:
- There is a meeting where a new strategy, tool, approach, or
technology needs to be introduced
- We bring pencil and papers to the meeting and sit around a table
together
- There is a computer screen on the table, which is connected to the
laptop of the one who wants to instruct
- There is a blackboard on the wall which can be used for sketches
- Naturally, we discuss actively, throwing back and forth questions
and answers
- There might be a paper that is handed out
- In the end, we are provided with certain resources where we can get
further information (these could be Internet web sites, or files found
on the local intranet)
- We can now start the self-learning methods you mentioned above
- We can publish our feedback in the company newsgroup
- We can publish our own papers (reflecting the subject and our
understanding of it) on the intranet web site, using a Content
Management System
This example illustrates it's rarely one approach versus the other;
rather, new technology goes hand in hand with traditional tools. If
you can combine the best of both worlds, you are adding value. (There
are even high-tech blackboards which can automatically scan your
sketch on them, to be reproduced on a screen, or send out via email.)
Since you say almost 90% of the staff is not suited for self-learning
methods right now, I actually see an extra need to expose them to
e-learning technologies. It can:
- stimulate,
- increase interest,
- open up new possibilities,
- further educate them in the use of today's tools, and
- bring on fresh ideas and new ways of approaching a given task.
As a resource for further information, I suggest the following site:
The eLearning Guild
http://www.elearningguild.com/
"The eLearning Guild is a Community of Practice for designers,
developers, and managers of e-Learning. Through this member driven
community, we provide high-quality learning opportunities, networking
services, resources, and publications. Members of the community
represent a diverse group of instructional designers, content
developers, web developers, project managers, contractors,
consultants, and managers and directors of training and learning
services -- all of whom share a common interest in e-Learning design,
development, and management."
On this site, you might be especially interested in the eLearning
resources page:
http://www.elearningguild.com/resources/resources/index.cfm?action=viewcats
This page features Research Reports & White Papers, Articles & Case
Studies and Press Releases in the "Stuff to Read" section.
And since you ask if eLearning has changed the just marginal benefit
using new technologies in the education process; to quote the
Commission Staff of the European Communities again:
eLearning: Designing Tomorrow's Education, 2 2002 (by the Commission
Staff of the European Communities) [PDF]
"there is a tendency to focus less on the 'e' of e-learning, and more
on the 'learning' component of the process. Successful use of the new
content and services depends to a large extent on the quality of the
teaching and the commitment of the teachers. (...)
'e-learning' is proving to be a major evolution rather than a
revolution."
I hope this helps!
[1] Computerclub REPORT, June 29 2002 [German]
Which place does the computer have in school education?
From the Heinrich Mann Gymnasium Köln
http://www.wdrcc.de/
Search terms:
elearning
"e-learning"
wdr computerclub |
