Activity 1.3 – Technology Options

Of the list of components used in e-Learning, those which I have had some experience with, and their definitions, include:

VIDEO – The medium of delivering information created from the recording of real events to be processed simultaneously by a learner’s eyes and ears. Compare to audio, text, graphics, and animation.

ONLINE QUIZZES

EMAIL - Short for electronic mail. The process of one user employing a computer to send a text message to an electronic mailbox to be retrieved and viewed by another user. Also, the message itself.

CHAT – Text-based group communication on the Internet. Multiple users can type their questions and answers for everyone to see. This form of group communication occurs in real-time.

DISCUSSION FORUMS - also know as a Bulletin Board System (BBS). The computer equivalent of a public note board, messages can be posted to a BBS for viewing by other users and other computers. A BBS is often called a threaded discussion.

The other components of e-Learning on the list included:

Synchronous activities – A training program in which the student and instructor participate at the same time. For example, an instructor-led chat session is a form of synchronous training. Common examples today include the use of products from Centra, Interwise, or others that enable web-casts of live events.

Asynchronous activities – A learning program that does not require the student and instructor to participate at the same time. Typically self-paced, online tutorials.

Web conferencing – A meeting of participants from disparate geographic locations that’s held in a virtual environment on the World Wide Web, with communication taking place via text, audio, video, or a combination of those methods. (http://www.learningcircuits.org/glossary)

Interactive TV – Any program feature that requires the learner to do something. Should help to maintain learner interest, provide a means of practice and reinforcement.

Simulations – A mode of instruction that relies on a representation in realistic form of the relevant aspects of a device, process, or situation.

Multi-user games

Virtual worlds – A meeting place on the Internet for people who share common interests and needs. Online communities can be open to all or be by membership only and may or may not be moderated. (http://www.learningcircuits.org/glossary.html)
(Definitions obtained from http://www.e-learningguru.com/gloss.htm or otherwise stated. Those without definitions are generally explained in the names themselves.)

In my work context:

What experience have you had with e-Learning?My experience with e-learning has involved use of several of the components used in e-learning. Most involvement has not been for educational purposes.

Describe the methods of delivery you have experienced? Email and chat I have used mainly for private use, however last semester in order to interact with my group and work through our assignment my group regularly emailed each other ideas for our work and we also worked online via msn messenger. Online quizzes I have completed for some subjects for assessment as well as online surveys.

I have used the discussion forum to post questions about assessments. I also go to the discussion board to read others questions which usually helps me in my own approach to my work.

How do these relate to the definitions of e-Learning outlined in the earlier readings? Each of these activities involved the use of computers and networks working simultaneously. Perhaps the greatest feature of using these methods was that it allowed me to communicate with my peers anywhere and anytime.