This article aims to look at the definitions that are commonly used in the fields of eLearning, online learning and distance learning, and outlines a survey of eLearning professionals about their usage and understanding of various terms. Moore et al aimed to identify if we can specifically understand and expect certain characteristics of a learning environment based on labels being used. The authors outline what some of the literary definitions are, however, point out that most terms share commonalities in that "some form of instruction occurs between two parties (a learning and an instructor), it is held at different times and/or places and uses varying forms of instructional materials" (p. 130). Even the learning environment characteristic terms and tools definitions are interchangeable. They conducted the survey and found that all learning environments are not the same, whether they are classroom based or online based. This is not surprising then that they discovered there is disagreement about the meanings of eLearning, online learning and distance learning.
This disagreement of terms creates an environment and industry where interpretation of those terms is left wide open. One of your colleagues may be using eLearning to describe what you might call online learning, or any other variation of the terms. One thing I've found though is that while we may be using different terms, the general understanding of what is trying to be explained is understood. It's like we know that everyone uses a different term or label and we make accommodations in our own understanding. With the ever increasing changes in technology and systems that support learning outside of a traditional classroom, we may need to expect that our terminology is also going to be ever changing and open to interpretation.
No comments:
Post a Comment