| E-Open
Learning
Technology in the New Millennium
Open
Leaning has gone through many phases in its long evolution,
prompted by changes in technology and custom For many, correspondence
courses were their early experience of a form, albeit restricted,
of open learning.
 This
in turn evolved by drawing one experience from the world of
print and graphic design and marrying this with educational
design principles to produce open learning workbooks. 'Packages'
of learning in turn included other media, such as video, audio
and CBT - and then there was multimedia.
And
now all of a sudden there's 'e-learning'. The proliferation
of e's in the field of learning is increasing in line with
the rise in the price of technology stocks and shares; and
where will that go?
If
you are thinking of investing hard earned cash, the traditional
view is that it will all end in tears. The bubble will burst.
But what about learning? Is e-learning the panacea, or one
more step in the breaking down of barriers to learning?
A
Global Phenomena
We
do seem to be breaking new ground. There are vast opportunities.
Globalisation and the communications technologies that in
part are driving that phenomenon are making possible new networks
that bring benefits to both learners and practitioners alike.
The
British Association for Open Learning (BAOL), a network of
over 200 member organisations from across the education and
learning sectors in the UK, now receive more enquiries from
overseas than from within he UK - through the Internet. We
have begun to sign up new members from across the globe, which
will bring an added dimension to our already active online
discussion group - or should that be e-group?
On
a personal basis, and also from BAOL's perspective, I am particularly
keen on these e-developments. They are good news for a networking
organisation that now has new tools to service its networks
even more effectively. More enquiries can be generated, building
membership at an even faster rate. Also, in the interests
of promoting good practice, there is a whole new area of learning
activity crying out for quality criteria so that the learning
experience really is enhanced for the learner.
Broadening
Horizons
Will
the e-bubble burst? Probably, as with stocks and shares it
never pays to have all your eggs in one basket. But then we
knew that anyway.
In
the field of open leaning, we have seen many new methods come
and many have gone. Many stay and get taken into the toolkit
of techniques that practitioners have available to motivate
learners and create interesting learning activities
No
one method has, so far, taken over from all the others. So
it is with e-learning.
Integration
with Tradition
Surely
this is never going to be the only way that learning experiences
are delivered? What will be interesting is how e-learning
can integrate with more traditional forms of learning.
E-tutoring
can already bring together groups of students who have never
met fact to face to consider, discuss and learn from materials
they have downloaded from the Web. Even with the most basic
e-mail technology, this really enhances the learning experience
- and just think of the possibilities when we get used to
videoconferencing and know better how to use it; a must for
tutorial groups in the future.
If
you want to keep up to date with these new developments in
learning, get in touch with us. Visit the BAOL website at:
www.baol.co.uk as a starting
point!
Author:
Brian Merison
General Manager
British Association For Open Learning |
