Why do e–learning at Warwick?
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This clarifies my answer, at least with regards to Arts and Humanities subjects. My answer is based on my time as a philosophy student, my knowledge of other departments, as well as my work with Kay on Skills and PDP, both or which are activities undertaken by the students with greater autonomy. Indeed all of this is about students achieving greater autonomy.
There are two realms in which learning occurs: formal departmenal curriculum, and informal self-organized activity. Self-organized learning may or may not be subject related. The two realms are often poorly or not at all connected. E-learning provides means for bridging this gulf.
Robert O'Toole
17 Aug 2004 07:30
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Chris May
E–learning may provide a means to bridge that gulf; is it the only one, or the best one? I guess this depends somewhat on how one defines e–learning – if you define it as 'a set of technology–supported activities that bridge the gap between formal and informal learning activities' then obviously it does – but that doesn't quite seem to match the more traditional definition of e–learning (i.e. 'it's what Blackboard does :–) )
I guess that's partly why I dislike the term 'E–Learning' – it's so hopelessly vague and ill–defined that trying to build 'E–Learning' systems is a recipie for scope creep, false expectations, and general dissapointment. I'd much rather build a system for publishing lecture notes, or a system for students to diarise their progress, then decide after the fact that it is or isn't e–learning.
17 Aug 2004, 08:51
Robert O'Toole
Yes, I agree completely. 'E–learning' is totally misleading.
We only need to have a name for the project and team, to give it a sense of unity and purpose. I like E–lab, but that covers too much. I like that kind of name, something a bit abstract but which gives a feeling of what its about.
The Waterloo e–learning team are called LT3.
17 Aug 2004, 09:12
Steven Carpenter
I like 'Learning Technologist' more than 'E–Learning Advisor' – the term is so jaded, and seems intrinsically linked to Blackboard/WebCT/InsertCommercialVLEHere type activities that no–one who really cares about teaching wants to know.
17 Aug 2004, 13:23
Robert O'Toole
And it's internationally recognized. We're members of the Association for Learning Technology.
17 Aug 2004, 13:45
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