In order to address changes in professional life as well as meet the demands of advances in life styles, life long learning is a norm to many people. Continuous and higher learning is the norm for active IS professionals.
Higher education trends suggest to focus on the target audience of the courses and curriculum of today's adult learners. The benefits of Information technologies to reach out to the learner and meet his/ her individual needs have to be balanced with the course objectives and methods of teaching. Web technologies enable convenient settings for access to education valuing the learner's pace and space. This trend is widely observed in the online/ blended (face to face and online mixed) education which can be considered as a paradigm shift in both teaching and learning from the current widely known approaches.
Careful analysis of the advantages and limitations in both approaches to teaching and learning can help derive value from a course offering. Course design is not limited to its fit in the curriculum, knowledge acquired or content. The learning environment can be seen as a dynamic Information System enabling a one-stop place along with providing access on devices preferred by the student and the teacher to make the learning experience valuable.
Several technologies especially the social software such as email systems, wikis, blogs, Instant messaging enable communication and collaboration. They are bringing new meaning to learning and teaching.
References:
1. Chapter 5, Disruptive Diplomas in the following book. Clayton M. Christensen (author of the Innovator’s dilemma and the Innovator’s solution), Scott D. Anthony, Erik A. Roth (2004). Seeing what ‘s next : Using the theories of innovation to predict industry change. Harvard Business School Press.
The chapter on Disruptive Diplomas identifies several types of consumers of education.
It exposes some of the drawbacks and misconceptions about viewing distance learning (e-learning) as just another vehicle to provide the same class-room based education. Analysing the needs of target audience is as important as the course design for elearning to be successful is the essence of this chapter.
2. Distance Education, Vol. 27, No. 2, August 2006, pp. 139 -153 Distance Education Trends: Integrating new technologies to foster student interaction and collaboration Yoany Beldarrain Florida Virtual School, USA
3. Journal of Information Technology Education Volume 6, 2007,
Web-Based Learning Environment: A Theory-Based Design Process for
Development and Evaluation
Chang S. Nam University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR, USA
Tonya L. Smith-Jackson Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, USA
4. Several blogs focusing on elearning technologies.
http://mivanova.blogspot.com/
Points to ponder:
How would a learner prefer to translate the learner environment in the picture above with
a) educational technologies?
b) social networking technologies?
