E-Learning

What is the future of learning? Will technology continue to be the key driver in educational change?

The concept of Personal Learning Environments (PLE) presented by Pontydysgu recognises that e-learning is a tool that provides ongoing support for learning both in the classroom and workplace. It is the idea that learning will take place in different contexts and situations and will not be provided by a single learning provider.

The PLE model allows learners to develop a learning environment to suit and enable each individuals own style of learning. Ubiquitous computing refers to the ever changing technologies available and the way in which we adapt to meet the needs of learners. With the increasing use of mobile devices and the spread of connectivity, access to theory and knowledge is easily available. Social software is increasingly being used in education and training through such applications as web logs, wikis, tools and applications for creating and sharing multimedia and tools for sharing all kinds of different personal  knowledge bases including bookmarks and blogs.

The development and support for Personal Learning Environments would affect not only in how we use educational technology, but in the organisation of education. Students have access to blogging, a variety of resources online, and software tailored to their learning content and styles. This alteration would provide responsibility and independence for learners and encourage learning, as technology now allows for globalised learning. The potential for knowledge development and sharing within schools have the potential to facilitate training and development and at the same time develop organisational learning. PLE is what the future of education will become. The technology is available now, but it is in the hands of institutions to incorporate e-learning into their classrooms and workplaces.

 

Reference: Attwell, Graham (2007). The Personal Learning Environments – the future of eLearning? eLearning Papers, vol. 2 no. 1. ISSN 1887-1542.