E-learning
This
term comes from electronic learning. It consist on education through the
internet. By this there can be interaction between teachers and students using
the technological tools. This is believed to be the educational tool of the
future, opening the doors for new learning possibilities to reach every level.
According
to e-abclearning.com, (2014) “e-learning involves three fundamental aspects:
- The pedagogic
that refers to the educational technology as a discipline of the education
sciences, linked with tech media, psychology and didactics.
- El technological
one that refers to the information and communication technology by means of the selection, design,
implementation of solutions where they integrate with open source
technologies.
The
soul of e-learning are the pedagogical aspects and they deal with the contents
to be taught. They represent the most relevant components of efficacy during
the teaching-learning process.
Some
of the benefits of e-learning that can be mentioned are: Cost reduction:
allows reducing and eliminate transportation and didactic materials expenses , speed
and agility in communications, just-in-time access:
users can access the content anytime they need and flexibility of the agenda: users do not have to be in the same place at
the same time.
Distance learning
In
techtarget.com Distance learning is defined as a formalized teaching and
learning system specifically designed to be carried out remotely by using not synchronized
electronic communication. Because distance learning is less expensive to
support and is not constrained by geographic considerations, it offers
opportunities in situations where traditional education has difficulty
operating. Students with scheduling or distance problems can benefit, as can
employees, because distance education can be more flexible in terms of time and
can be delivered virtually anywhere. Among the most popular distance learning
technologies might be mentioned:
- Voice-centered
technology, such as CD or MP3
recordings or Webcasts
- Video
technology, such as instructional videos, DVDs, and interactive
videoconferencing
- Computer-centered
technology delivered over the Internet or corporate intranet.
-
- Also
it is very important to say that studies indicate that distance learning can be
as effective as the traditional format when the methods are appropriate to the
teaching tasks, there is student-teacher interaction, and the teachers provide
students with appropriate and timely feedback.
In
relation to Online Learning It can be
said that is a form of distance education related to everything on the web
using internet connection.
According
to the Keystone college web page online
courses can be:
- Asynchronous
- delivered at your convenience any time or place
- Synchronous -
students are online at a specified time.
But there are some basic skills that students should have in order to
use this kind of distance learning such as: Basic computer skills needed to learn online: how to Navigate
and search the internet, how to use e-mail, how to attach document
files in an
e-mail, how to download and save files and how to use word processing software
(Microsoft Word, Excel, And Powerpoint).
Now we go to the Mobile learning definition
which I found to be the evolution of e-learning in distance education programs.
As its name indicates it makes use of small tech devices which are easy to
carry with you such as cell phones, laptops, tablets, and electronic agendas,
pocket PC´s or any other wireless devices. More recently we can add the Apps
that adapt to any device, uses and tastes. This concept refers more to the
learning environments that make use of the mobile techs to improve the
teaching-learning processes.
Wikispaces.com mentions some of
the main characteristics of the M-learning:
- “Learners
have complete flexibility”.
- “Technological Independence on the contents
since a specific lesson is not made only for an specific device.”
- “Just in time, just for me”: it is exactly what
the student wants when he/she wants it.”
- “All the activities are available for the
mobile devices”
- “Easy
browsing and contents adapted to the speed and storage of the mobile
devices”.
-
On
the other hand, there is the Blended
Learning that is a mixture of using all the technology available on the web
and face to face classes. This is a formal education program Proponents of
blending learning cite the opportunity for data collection and customization of
instruction and assessment as two major benefits of this approach. Blended
learning can include and mix e-learning, online learning and mobile learning.
Reference list
- Visit these web pages for more information:
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