Andrews (2011) highlights the following concepts:
- Learning is socially situated and therefore e-communities are different from conventional learning communities as the participants in e-communities are physically isolated but come together for learning purposes and for researching the internet.
- Learning of knowledge is affected by digital technology and computers are multimodal and the majority of communication is done via computers.
· Transformation is a central to the theory of learning because the users re-shape meaning according to the available resources. Transduction has the effect of re-casting the meaning from one mode to another.
· E-learning requires considerable motivation of the individual but is solely dependent on the individual.
· Other theories that extend our knowledge of e-learning were: Intrinsic motivation; social informatics; digital media theory.
Does E-Learning require a new theory of Learning?
I believe the answer has to be YES for the following reasons:
E-learning should be seen as means of education and not a mode of education which may involve a number of technological tools that can be applied in various contexts. Students are encouraged to construct their own learning by using technology and also a teacher can use that same technology to lead students on a pathway to form their own conclusions from learning.
How does this relate to my teaching practice? Currently, I use a lot of verbal and hard text visual information to teach staff and students on a Coronary Care Ward. Often, you only get five minutes to address issues and conduct hotspot teaching sessions. When more time is available, I will go through PowerPoint presentations. I am currently reviewing the structure and nature of all my teaching resources due to the information provided by this course.
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