e-learning Trends

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e-learning Trends Opportunities

• Shweta Shroff
• LIS Officer, CEE

5th lecture under ADINET Monthly Lecture
Series 24 April 2008
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Scope of this lecture

• Definitions
• Techniques
• History
• Advantages
• Categories
• Formal e-learning -ODL in India for LIS community
• Informal and work-based e-learning
• Major e-resources for learning
• Trends in e-learning
• E-learning in LIS Curriculum

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e-learning is

• The effective learning process created by
  combining digitally delivered content with
  (learning) support and services.
• - The Open and Distance Learning Quality
  Council, UK
• The effective teaching and learning process
  created by combining e-digital content with local
  community and tutor support along with global
  community engagement.
• - The Network for Capacity Building and
  Knowledge Exchange (NetTel_at_Africa)

4
e-Learning is

• The use of network technology to design, deliver,
  select, administer, and extend LEARNING.
• Elliott Masie, The Masie Center
• Electronic learning or e-Learning is a general
  term used to refer to a form of learning in which
  the instructor and student are separated by space
  or time where the gap between the two is bridged
  through the use of online technologies.
• - Wikipedia

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In general

• Instructional content (education and training) or
  learning experiences supported, delivered or
  enabled by electronic technology
• Any learning that utilizes electronic technology
  and network (LAN, WAN or internet) for delivery,
  interaction or facilitation

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E-learning techniques

• Web-based learning
• Computer-based learning
• Virtual classrooms
• Digital collaborations
• Content delivery via
• E-networks
• Audio or video tape
• Satellite TV
• Video conferencing
• CD-ROM
• E-mail
• Wireless mobile technology etc.

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E-learning advantages

• Easy to Use - any location and any time
• Operates in real time
• individual, Self directed, self-paced and
  convenient
• Comprehensive
• Dynamic, interactive
• quick, moves faster
• Cross platform
• Can lead to increased retention a stronger
  grasp on the subject , empowering
• Proven and Certified
• Age no bar

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E-learning advantages (cont)

• less expensive to produce
• Pre and post skill assessments measure the
  progress
• updation is easy quick
• easily manageable for large groups of students

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Categories

• Formal learning
• Informal learning
• Blended learning
• Communities
• Knowledge Management
• Networked learning
• Work-based learning

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Biggest advantage for LIS community
Where do we want to be tomorrow?
Performance Gap
What are we today?
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LISc Courses in India

• MLISc (17)
• BLISc (26)
• Certificate (6)
• Diploma (3)
• PG Diploma (2)
• Source http//www.webindia123.com/career/correspo
  ndence/libra.htm

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E-learning opportunities

• Some useful web links
• http//www.librarysupportstaff.com
• http//library20.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id51
  51083ABlogPost3A30994
• http//home.earthlink.net
• http//www.oclc.org/americalatina/pt/support/train
  ing/firstsearch/tutorial/default.htm
• http//www.ala.org/ala/accreditation/lisdirb/lisdi
  rectory.cfm
• http//www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category
  442
• www.cilip.org.uk
• http//lu.com/odlis/about.cfm

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Some useful web links (cont)

• http//library.boisestate.edu/Reference/BBRIN/jarg
  on.htm
• http//www.ipl.org/
• http//www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/virtualref.htm
• http//www.e-learningcenter.com
• http//esl.about.com/cs/onlinecourses/a/a_ecourses
  .htm
• http//www.english-online.org.uk/
• http//www.languageshome.com/
• http//www.better-english.com/exerciselist.html
• http//www.unt.edu/slis/apppacket/ITKS/ITKSassess.
  htm
• http//www.docnmail.com/resources.htm

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Some useful web links (cont)

• Free tutorials
• http//www.homeandlearn.co.uk/
• http//www.educationonlineforcomputers.com/
• http//www.teacherclick.com/
• http//www.businessbookmall.com/Software20Tutoria
  ls20Internet20Library.htm
• http//www.3dtree.com/ev/e/sb.htm
• http//www.mytutorials.com/tutorials/
• http//www.video-tutes.com/

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Online tools

• Encyclopaedia, Wikis
• Directories, Dictionaries, glossaries
• Thesaurus
• Audio, Video clips
• Journals, Articles, Reports etc.
• Blogs, Games, tutorials
• Virtual Learning Centres (VLC)
• Virtual Communities, Discussion boards, Social
  networks
• Listservs/ infoservs India-LIS, NPDG-L,
  Univers, SLA
• Organisations websites
• CAS sites informedlibrarian, infolibrarian
• Portals

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Popular e-tutors in India

• IGNOU
• NIIT e-college
• Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning
• Annamalai Univ. Online Ph.D.
• BITS Virtual Campus BITS programmes
• eGuru Online tuitions
• Gurukulonline Web-based programmes
• Tutorvisa Online tuitions
• MBD Alchemie Online tuitions
• IITs, IISc E-learning repositories
• Gurus are in short supply the workd over.
  Technology can make the great teachers available
  to thousands of students. - Uday Singh, Exe.
  V.P. Head, NIIT
• Ref Click, enter campus Cover story of the
  Week. Oct. 2007.

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Recent trends in e-learning

• E-learning as a business strategy
• A strategic solution
• For new employee
• For manager
• For IT professional
• Application-specific e-learning solutions
• Blended learning
• Collaborative learning

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Trends (cont)

• Use of variety of e-resources
• E-textbooks, portals, open sources, wikis
• Game-based learning
• Instant Messaging (IM) chat
• Live e-learning, e-lectures
• Mobile wireless e-learning
• Peer-to-peer (p2p) e-learning

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Some challenges

• Maintaining the volume yet increasing the quality
  of the e-learning
• Adding simulations and other high-fidelity
  activities and exercises to learning programs.
• Reducing the cost and complexity of LMS
  implementations while increasing use
• Creating learning environments in which learners
  can find just what they need including
  training, reference information, and performance
  support
• Helping learners learn from each other through
  communities of practice, blogs, wikis, and other
  forms of self-published content
• Standardization

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E-learning in LIS Curriculum

• Recommend e-courses
• Develop e-courses
• Supplement courses
• i.e.Blended learning

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Tips for online course evaluation

• Learner support resources
• Course information
• Online support
• Content support
• Channels for feedback on resources support
• Online information design
• Completeness
• Clear syllabus
• Aesthetic design
• Consistent functional
• Accessibilities
• Channels for feedback

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Tips (cont)

• Instructional design delivery
• Opportunities for interaction
• Alignment of course objectives to learning
  outcomes
• Clearly defined learning outcomes
• Variety of learning tasks
• Critical thinking tasks
• Channels for feedback on instructional design
• Assessment evaluation of student learning
• Opportunities for self-assessment
• Alignment between objectives, activities
  assessments
• Comprehensive assessment strategy
• Opportunities for students to receive feedback
• Channels for learners feedback on assessment
  strategy

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In short

• Course should have SMILE
• S Simple
• M Motivating
• I Interactive
• LE Learner-centric environment

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Nine quick wins in e-learning

• Use what is available
• Make sure there's something for everyone
• Obtain senior management involvement
• Solve real problems
• Use the full range of e-learning methods
• Provide a gateway to learning
• Look for a receptive audience
• Don't sacrifice the long term
• Value quality than quantity

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Supplementing courses

• Strategies
• set of goals or objectives
• Conduct a needs assessment
• Review learners readiness
• Resources assessment
• Obtain management direction
• Top-down
• Bottom-up
• Content development
• Evaluation mechanism
• Consistent and thorough documentation

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Assess your resources

• Technology
• Content
• Administration and support 
• Communication
• Financial
• costs for technology, authoring tools, course
  development, support, and administration
• Free or priced
• calculations for how long it will take for you to
  break-even and the return on investment

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Some tips to start with

• Provide e-career information
• Reuse content the practical way
• Provide online references
• send learners daily, weekly, or monthly tips via
  email
• Prepare a dedicated Website
• About the topic/courses
• brief how-to articles that explain how to perform
  a task
• Content could be in PDF, RTF (if word file), CSV
  (if spreadsheets) etc.

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Conclusion

• The question is no longer if the Internet can be
  used to transform learning in new and powerful
  ways. The studies have shown that it can.
• Nor is the question should we invest the time,
  the energy, and the money necessary to fulfill
  its promise in defining and shaping new learning
  opportunity. We should.
• It is time we collectively move the power of the
  Internet for learning from promise to practice.

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Quote

• On the road to e-Learning, make sure that
  Learning is in the driving seat, and Technology
  is in the passenger seat with the map. Learning
  decides the destination, Technology helps you get
  there.
• Ian Fyfe
• Learndirect Scotland

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• Thank You