scholarly journals Should we be Allowing Technology to Remove "Distance" from "Distance Education"?

Author(s):  
Richard Fisher

Some researchers suggest that the rapid evolution of increasingly sophisticated e-learning technologies, in combination with synchronous delivery, have resulted in the death of distance education. This paper distinguishes traditional distance education from e-learning, on the basis of geographical separation of teachers and students, no online access requirements, and the historical rationale for distance education. These and other factors, including relative costs, point to longevity, rather than an early demise for this form of distance education. Education for sustainability (EFS) is used as a cautionary case study to illustrate the ways in which e-learning may not adequately serve the goals of EFS as well as traditional distance education. Caution is urged in the further development of e-learning policies to ensure that they distinguish traditional distance education on the basis of its ongoing, special value to learners.

2021 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
pp. 03007
Author(s):  
Oksana Marunevich ◽  
Valentina Kolmakova ◽  
Irina Odaruyk ◽  
Denis Shalkov

In the world of online education, teachers are constantly looking for ways to interact with students both synchronously and asynchronously. The next decade is likely to witness a considerable rise in the development of more advanced e-learning and m-learning tools since they have become a vital factor for education due to the global shutdown of learning activities forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper is a preliminary attempt to analyze the use of e-learning and m-learning technologies by Russian universities. E-learning and m-learning mean sharing knowledge and skills by using web- or mobile-based technology, respectively. The most commonly employed learning tools are social networks, LMS, and video conferencing which due to their accessibility, immediacy, interactivity, and context-awareness benefit both teachers and students in a number of ways.


Webology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 1023-1034
Author(s):  
Sumartono Sumartono ◽  
Nuril Huda ◽  
Wildan Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

The rapid development of information technology can answer problems that arise after the Covid-19 pandemic, especially problems in the learning process. Information technology that plays a role in the world of education which is currently booming is online learning. Online learning is different from ordinary learning, online learning places more emphasis on student's ability to receive and process information. Online learning serves as a liaison between teachers and students through the internet network that can be accessed anytime and anywhere. There are various online media used in the learning process including; WhatsApp, Google Meet, Zoom, Classroom, and even e-learning. But among these media, the easiest to use is WhatsApp, which is easily accessible at every level of education. Online learning is now an effective medium for the learning process at all levels. For an effective and optimal online learning process, there are several learning models offered by experts during the Covid-19 pandemic, including; Online Model, Offline Model, Online e-learning Model, Project-Based Learning, and Blended Learning.


Author(s):  
Deryn Graham

This case study looks at the creation of a Transnational Framework for e-Learning Technologies. It describes how the original study which aimed to “Develop a Framework for e-Learning” through a given exemplar in a United Kingdom institution, has gone through several iterations. From initially considering e-Tutoring/e-Moderating from a Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) point of view, to the adoption of Blended Learning as a solution to problems revealed by the Framework. Proceeding to evaluate e-Learning in terms of PESTE (Political, Economic, Social, Technical and Environmental) factors, restated here in the form of STEP (Social, Technological, Economical and Political) factors, which led to the realization of major external issues for e-Learning. Most recently, the study evolved to revisit e-Learning from an HCI and Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) perspective, by applying a Cooperative Work Framework. The resulting final incarnation, a Transnational Framework for e-Learning, is thus presented.


Author(s):  
Salam Abdallah ◽  
Fayez Albadri

This case study discusses a model of evaluating a group of adult students learning resulting from using an online social constructivist tool. The study is based on using a discussion board for sharing and co-constructing knowledge. Learning through social interactions and critical thinking is increasingly considered an essential teaching approach and especially for adult students. This approach promotes active learning and leads to better understanding of the subject matter. Online interaction evidently promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and knowledge construction. The literature provides a large set of approaches for evaluating discussion boards. However, their uses are not easily adoptable by faculty who are primarily interested in measuring the quality of online discussion. The authors contend that faculty should not adhere to a single measure but rather to be experiential and to develop their own models of evaluation of the students’ online learning experience. This case study discusses our own model for understanding the students’ learning experience and the authors’ approach to assess an individual’s level of engagement in critical thinking. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on adopting e-learning technologies at institutions in the Arab World for teaching adult students.


Author(s):  
Jim Prentzas ◽  
Gregory Derekenaris ◽  
Athanasios Tsakalidis

Port authorities constitute very active organizations that frequently interact with citizens as well as public and private organizations. The employees and administration of port authorities require effective e-government services in order to implement their tasks. The required services should provide effective information flow and collaboration to improve decision making, governance, and integration of all sectors. In this chapter, the authors briefly outline issues concerning the usefulness of intranets in organizations and corresponding services provided to organization employees. They briefly present key aspects of certain recent approaches concerning e-governance and intranets in ports. The authors also present a case study involving the e-government services implemented for Patras’s Port Authority in Greece. The specific port authority has a lot of workload because the corresponding port is the third largest in Greece and a main gate to countries abroad. The case study combined Internet-based technologies with e-learning technologies. E-learning services assist employees in acquainting themselves with newly introduced e-government services. Therefore, e-learning may contribute in the successful realization of e-government projects.


Author(s):  
Barbara Kołodziejczak ◽  
Magdalena Roszak

ABSTRACT Deployment of distance education (especially e-learning) at universities requires university teachers and students to have adequate ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) competencies. Schools usually provide training for their staff in operating e-learning portals and creating courses, which is the necessary minimum for conducting distance education. On the other hand, schools do not offer any courses for students to improve their competencies necessary for e-learning, as they assume that the students’ ICT competencies acquired during the three levels of schooling (elementary, lower secondary and upper secondary) are sufficient. The authors’ observations demonstrate that this assumption is not necessarily true, particularly for students at faculties related to humanities and other specializations not of technical nature, such as medicine. The article presents an overview of ICT competencies necessary for e-learning study, comparing them with competencies of a secondary school graduate. On the basis of a research project conducted at three medical universities in Poland, the authors present the level of knowledge and practical skills in the field of ICT among students who participated in e-learning or blended learning. As a result of the project, a proposal has been presented for modifying ICT education contents for students, as well as a draft course carried on the university’s LCMS (Learning Content Management System) portal to bridge the ICT competence gaps for effective distance education.


Author(s):  
Jamie Ward

Academic libraries have adopted and adapted the e-learning technologies for delivery of their Information Literacy programmes. This chapter describes some of the ways in which academic librarians have been very inventive in using emerging technologies to enhance their instructional content. By using a case study of DkIT the chapter details how information literacy and the e-learning technologies emerged together. E-learning platforms like the virtual learning environments (VLE) are the natural place for libraries to use as portals for their IL instruction. This chapter argues that using the VLE (with the inherent instructional interaction made possible by this technology), and adopting some amalgam of the newer teaching styles like problem-based learning and blended learning techniques completes the IL circle for librarians. Librarians now have the tools at their disposal to finally fulfil the promises we undertook when we embarked on our information literacy programmes.


Author(s):  
A. Seitbatkalova ◽  
S. Mukan ◽  
S. Tamenova

The purpose of the study. Assessment of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of education based on a study of the implementation of e-learning technologies using digital platforms in both foreign and Kazakhstani universities.Methodology. Problems related to online learning and possible solutions were identified based on a retrospective and comparative analysis of foreign and Kazakhstan scientific research. Scientific literature search was carried out in large databases: Researchgate, Springer, ScienceDirect. During the search, 481 scientific articles were found that matched the entered search parameters. Given the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 465 papers were screened out, and the remaining 16 were sent for analysis.Originality / value of the research. Along with identifying barriers to the introduction of e-learning, the main factors during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified that influenced the effectiveness of the educational process. The study revealed that digital platforms create sustainable competitive advantages and are the main tool for modernizing the learning process.Findings. As a result of the study, the most significant factors related to technological knowledge management, as well as the level of readiness of universities, teachers and students to implement e-learning, were identified.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. p44
Author(s):  
Theresa Kwong ◽  
Lawrence Mui ◽  
Eva Y. W. Wong

To minimise the adverse impact on student learning due to escalating social unrest started locally in June 2019 and the current COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong Baptist University has emphatically strengthened its strategic resolve in e-Learning deployment. With various measures and e-Learning initiatives rolled out, HKBU teachers gained more momentum in launching online classes and conducting e-Assessments with different e-Tools. Peer-sharing from teachers who have successfully implemented online classes and digital assessment was conducive to creating a culture to fast-track e-Learning adoption. This case study sheds light on how virtual teaching and learning have assisted HKBU teachers and students circumvent the recent crises. The study also identifies determining factors and challenges of adopting e-Learning strategies at the University.


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