Task:
After talking about experiences in eLearning and what makes good or bad eLearning it seems to be time to talk about what eLearning really is.
So the next Task will be to look up (at least) two definitions of eLearning and say why you like or dislike the definition.
Please use Books and web resources and add useful bibliographical referencees as in your usual papers.
Answer:
At first It wasn’t quite easy to find something adequate definitions of eLearning, because I tried to search for definitions in Online Encyclopedias (wasn’t the best way, beside Wikipedia). After trying 5 of these and not finding what I looked for I derelicted it and tried another searching method. So I searched directly for the term eLearning definition and I had more luck.
The first definition which I found and which called my attention, after trying some links, was on ITWissen, sorry it is in german, if i have the time I will try to translate the definition into English.
eLearning (electronical learning)
E-Learning ist die interaktive Kommunikation zwischen dem wissensvermittelnden Programm und dem Lernenden, in aller Regel eine Einzelperson. Es ist der Oberbegriff für alle Formen des elektronisch unterstützten Lernens. Dies umfasst die computer-, netz- und satellitengestützte interaktive Wissensvermittlung. Dazu zählen das Telelearning mittels interaktivem Fernsehen, CD-ROM oder Magnetbändern, das Computer Based Training (CBT), das Internet- oder Intranet-basierte Web Based Training (WBT), Webcasts und Webinare.
Neben der Interaktion mit dem Lernprogramm des Computers oder dem Webserver sind die Multimedialität und die Lernkontrolle weitere wichtige Charakteristika von E-Learning.
(Source: http://www.itwissen.info/definition/lexikon/E-Learning-eLearning-electronic-learning.html, from 31.10.2008)
To me this definition is really interesting, mainly the first sentence,
E-Learning is the interactive communication beside the knowledge trasporting program and the learner, which in most cases is only one person.
I’ve never heard something similar before and the first thing that was emerging into my head, was the FIlm Matrix, because of the symbiosis between the humans and the machines.
In my opinion it is the best definition I’ve seen so far, because it is including all of the facts which I’m connecting to the term eLearning. In fact, if you want to get a deeper look and really want to understand everything related to the term eLearning, you’ll have to read a lot more, because of the various scopes which are related to eLearning and which are constructing it.
The next definition I found was on the pebblePad of the University of Gloucestershire.
What do we mean by e-learning?
{…}
The use of electronic technologies in an integrated and directed way to encourage students to engage actively with their learning.
{…}
(Source: http://pebblepad.glos.ac.uk/viewasset.aspx?oid=6844&type=thought#linksanchor, from 31.10.2008)
Not really a defintion, but I found the sentence
The use of electronic technologies in an integrated and directed way to encourage students to engage actively with their learning.
interesting.
Can eLearning really do something like that? “…encourage the students to engage actively with the learning.” What has to be done that this could work? What about digital immigrants, natives and retiree, I mean there are so man things you have to be aware of. Different learning styles (audio, visual, kinetic). Different generations. I think I’m stoping right here, because this list could go on and on.
Thats it for Task #2 
