Overview

1
What are the main issues here ?
E-learning a bridge to the future ?
Damn, the computers gone down
First, dont we need a Conceptual Framework ?
What about Laurillard ?
Mmhh what are the Pros and Cons ?
So where is it useful, and what impact does it
have on us ?
2
What is e-learning ?

• A basis for re-designing the future of HRD
  around
• Videostreaming, computers, games, e-mail,
  intranets, dvds, simulations, web resources,
  multimedia presentations, interactive classrooms,
  chat groups
• A Paradox a reason to spend large sums on HRD,
  but a way of making cost savings on HRD-premises
  and people
• An intellectual challenge your subject is human
  development, but e-learning draws you into a
  vortex of technical subjects and skills

3
E-learning

• All roads seem to lead to this bridge to the
  future through e-learning
• Can it provide all the qualities of a good
  bridge, or is it an unsafe and inappropriate
  structure, or a diversion- a bridge to nowhere ?
• Begin by establishing a framework for what
  learning involvesthen see how much it enables
  re-design of learning

4
Laurillards Framework

• Learning Which means Conceptualise
• Requires as
• Attending, apprehending Print, Text,Video/DVD Narr
  ative
• Investigating, exploring Working with
  experts Interactive
• Discussing, debating Seminar, conference Communica
  tive
• Experiment, practise Lab, field trip,
  simulation Adaptive
• Articulate, expressing Essay, product,
  model Productive

Yes, very good, but how does this relate to
e-learning ?
Effective learning is a blend of these various
elements
5
The non-e ways of providing these elements are in
many ways deficient unpopular, inflexible and
time consuming
Elements Non-e E-learn alternatives
Narrative Course materials/texts
Multimedia Interactive In class with
Facilitator Any time ? Communicative Peer
Group discussions Networked chat Adaptive Paper
Tasks/Exercises Simulations Productive Paper
Tests, Exams On-line checks
Need examples !
6
Narrative elements

• Improve Narrative in the direct learning
  experiences
• Using multimedia materials rather than text alone
• Provide narrative outside the direct learning
  experience
• before it and after it
• Change narrative style
• from the logic of linear information presentation
  to the style of story-telling

7
Interactive

• Improve interaction with the expert present
• studio systems of working on projects guided by
  them, rather than instruction sessions
• Do not need an expert present in the same room
• interaction is then possible remotely with a
  wider range of experts than could ever be
  gathered in a specific place

8
Communicative

• Discussion and debate within and beyond the
  immediate participants
• Discussion and debate within and beyond one place
  at a set time
• Video
• Desktop systems or facility based
• Videostreaming
• E-mail lists, Chat groups
• Announcing, surveying
• Synchronous
• Asynchronous
• Formal, informal

9
Adaptive

• Learning by doing Simulating work and tasks
• Systems and decision making
• e.g. whole business system, PATSy
• Process modelling e.g. how procedures work- e.g
  airline check in, medical diagnosis
• Apparatus operation e.g. control a nuclear power
  station
• Benefits
• Practice in a safe environment
• Monitor learning as it is happening
• Control situations and alter them
• Substitutes for on job training
• Involve the trainee in the learning vicarious
  learning

How can e learning be better than direct
experience ?
10
Adaptive Interactive Virtual Reality

• Where learning environments are an immersive
  substitute for the real world
• Archetypal flight simulators
• Versions Flat screen, projections, immersive
  versions, haptic versions
• Advantages
• The feel of the real, provide situated learning,
  monitor learners as they learn
• Disadvantages
• These are only facsimiles, high cost for fidelity

11
Productive

• How can e-learning technologies help learners be
  productive ?
• Access and complete automated on line tests and
  feedback
• Compile and integrate notes, records and
  materials more easily
• in a searchable form
• Able to convert to outputs (assignments, revision
  ?)

12
Option 1Learning Centres
Those are all separate elements how does it all
come together ?

• Learning centres the most popular means of
  providing e learning
• E.g. Learndirect network of over 450 centres in
  Scotland
• An in-house resource centre with PCs or on
  Intranets
• Physical presence (image and marketing) Pleasant
  environment
• Secure place for materials
• Focal point for support
• Standardised hardware and software

13
Option 2

• Intranets private networks within organisations
  accessed using web browsers
• Use to organise all resources, learning
  environments
• E.g. Web CT, Moodle http//moodle.org/
• Curriculum, assessments, etc
• Communicating one to one, one to many, many to
  one
• Other peoples web sites and resources

14
Pros of ICT in general 1

• Greater volume and higher standards of narrative
  consistency of material ?
• More interactivity and adaptivity for learners
  sequence and focus
• More communication

Sounds wonderful, but in the language of business
?
15
Pros for e-learning

• Quicker Claims that training time is reduced by
  26
• Personalised learners can go at their own pace,
  own time faster or slower
• Motivating more enjoyable than paper based
  learning
• Feedback checking progress frequently and easily
• Practical practice in safety
• Cheaper Direct costs reduced premises, travel,
  course fees (?)

16
Cons ?

• Potential for better narrative, interactivity and
  productivity- but quality of actual products and
  services is a problem
• Lacking interactivity in a class with other
  learners and a facilitatator
• Access to, and quality of, help and support
• Individuals Isolated
• Motivational problems in completion
• The adaptive part, experiential learning, is
  best experienced in a community of practice

17
E-learn seen as useful where

• A computer related task is involved
• And learners are dispersed
• And it is difficult to assemble them at the same
  time/or blocks of time are hard to schedule
• And a consistent message is absolutely essential
• And right/wrong test marking is possible
• And instructors are in short supply

18
ICT and Changing Roles

• HRD professionals
• Become purchasers/developers/facilitators of e
  materials and services
• HRD Providers
• shifting to on-line presence and producing
  multimedia content
• Government
• Infrastructure development National Grid for
  learning, University for Industry, Learn Direct
• Multimedia industry support European level
• Learners
• More working with ICT as part of their working
  life
• Expectations of new generations and there
  standards-digital natives

19
Is it worth the trouble or just over-hyped by
propellor heads ?
Damn, the computers gone down again
Where are companies at the moment ?
So, can you summarise for me
And any concluding thoughts ?
20
Evaluation issues

• Reactions learners are ve about it (in small
  doses)
• Learning No significant difference ?
• Costs lower costs at volume (so the big can
  do it, the small cannot)
• Transfer If learning is on IT itself it is
  high if
• other it depends
• Blending ICT with other methods concept and
  demands
• Blending learning with work remember from
  providing training to managing learning themes

21
A maturity model

• Entry level Experiment with technologies in
  presentations and/or use some CBT
• Stage 2 Establish a Learning Resource Centre and
  develop extensive network provisions
  Intranet and/or other provisions
• Stage 3 Blending e- with other HRD challenges
  and partnerships
• Stage 4 Using tehcnologies to blend learning
  with work systems to support performance

22
Summary

• Issues Analysis
• New ICT Limited to some
• and e paradigm kinds of instruction
• Lower costs Higher Initial Costs
• Greater volume People switch off
• More Effective No Difference
• Blend with all aspects Cant replace
  oflearning human interaction

23
Other Issues

• Who develops the infrastructure and the content
  (special institutions, organisations, providers
  ?)
• Is this all too IT infrastructure driven ? Do we
  have to e-this, e-that, e-everything ?
• Are there maturing systems with clear standards
  hardware and quality software ?
• Whose systems and standards ? (Microsoft,
  Sun/Google)

24
Closing thoughts

• Technologies do provide an opportunity to
  re-think and
• re-design learning ,
• with conventional problems
• (motivation, access, flexibility,
• quality, cost) potentially addressed.
• But the quality of basic design
• (TNA, Instruction/facilitation,
• delivery and evaluation)
• and the professional management of
• implementation matters, not the
• change of medium itself

25
Concluding exercise

• Task consider this specific class
• What elements of e learning could you envisage
  using here ? Use the Laurillard categories to
  organise your analysis
• Time Build a re-design profile of this class in
  group discussion in 20 minutes
• Outcome identifying the options for and issues
  around blending e-learning into the mix.
• Further connections class assessment in either
  assignment or exam