Online Education

Online Education or E-learning is the computer and network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge. E-learning applications and processes include Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual education opportunities and digital collaboration.

Types of Online Education:

1. Traditional online education - highly produced web courses
2. Rapid online education - quickly produced web courses

Explore learning objects and simulations:

Website: www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/
Making the Modern World learning module site gives powerful stories about science and invention from the eighteenth century to today.

 

Evaluation: This website does offer stories of invention history. It's easy to look for specific topics. The personal computers and information networks section in particular provides information about the development of computer and internet. The way it presented on the website is clear with related pictures that can be very helpful in understanding the information given.

 

Use a Simulation:


Website: frog.edschool.virginia.edu/
This website teaches and gives information and tutorial of the on-line dissection of frogs. It guides learner through a frog dissection that a learner can use as practice before or instead of an actual dissection.

Evaluation: This website is easy to a access and it has also pictures in it. It fulfil its purpose becaus it allowws learners to practise dissecting a frog before doing the actual dissection.

Macromedia virtual classroom:

Website: www.adobe.com/learning
Macromedia is under Adobe and it also provides elearning. It's learning solutions purpose is to empower everyone from CMOs to developers to solve business problems, find new opportunities for growth, and be more successful in their careers.

 

Evaluation: This website fulfil it's purpose because it offers training or tutorials, webinars or seminars and online courses that enables people to get the most out of Adobe products especially the use of its Macromedia softwares. This also provides certification that gives people a clear and focused way to tell the world about their expertise and communicate their proficiency in leading products from Adobe. This is one example of an exciting technology of elearning and what this offers that a traditional learning cannot give is the fast and easy accessibility of sources needed for learning. For example, the video tutorials conducted by professionals allow learners to watch and replay them in their own free time and at home. Another one is the virtual training that allows users to learn at home or anywhere that makes them comfortable to learn as long as there's an internet and the softwares needed for the training.

A major disadvantage to e-learning is the self-discipline it requires. While being able to work at your own pace can be an advantage, it can also be a disadvantage. This is especially true for students who have difficulty with time management and procrastination. These students tend to be more successful with the structure of traditional learning. Another disadvantage to e-learning is the technology involved. Some people do not have ready access to a computer and Internet connection. And some who do have the required equipment feel ill-equipped to use it. Lack of interaction between teacher and student is another drawback to e-learning. Some students need the immediate feedback that interaction provides.

Learning Objects:

Flash viewlet and Quicktime movies are marketed by a number of companies to the educational market as 'learning objects'. Teachers or students package a number of them to create a unique learning package.
Flash viewlet assists students and staff when learning to use software applications; these can be greatly enhanced using well thought out text annotations that inform and instruct the viewer. However using flash viewlet is not easy and time consuming but once the educational animation produced it will be used for a longer period of time and can be used repeatedly. Quicktime movies on the other hand can provide educational videos for students.


Research Online Education:

(1 - highest rank, 5 - lowest rank)

1. BBC Bitesize
BBC Bitesize is a free online study support resource for school-aged students in the UK. It is very accessible as it provides easy way to navigate subjects. This is ranked as the highest because it has a wide range lists of school subjects and tackels different levels of education from Key Stage 1 up to GCSEs and to higher education subjects. There are also video clips, games and quizzes provided for a more exciting way to learn. It has also a message board where the learners can communicate with other learners.
2. LearningSpace (The Open University)
LearningSpace provides online study support resource for university students. This is ranked second because there are different subjects included with a fully detailed topics of each subjects but it does not give specific educational information for students on different school levels unlike BBC Bitesize. Research, audios, videos and pictures are also provided to help students for their studies.
3. Kineo
Kineo's mission is to support companies to improve performance through learning and technology.
They aim to bring fresh thinking to deliver creative solutions whether it is a learning portal or custom e-Learning. It provides, demos, training and case studies for their clients.
4. Sponge
Sponge is a UK e-learning company that helps major organisations train their staff by creating customised online courses. It provides organisations specific training. It allows users to watch demos, train online and gives more information with case studies
5. Learndirect
Learndirect provides courses online for English, Maths and IT subjects. It allows people to enrol and learn online at one of its centres, where they get face to face support from staffs. Learners can also join to its online community where they can talk with other learners, ask for help and make new friends too. This is ranked as the lowest because it does not really provide information, demos or tutorials that helps the learners to improve their studies without the need to go to Learndirect centres. This website only gives guidance about the courses.

Sources:
www.makingthemodernworld.org.uk/
frog.edschool.virginia.edu/
www.adobe.com/learning
http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_4743220_advantages-disadvantages-elearning.html
http://archive.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=ferl.aclearn.resource.id7324
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
www.open.ac.uk
www.kineo.com
www.spongeuk.com
www.learndirect.co.uk