The real e-learning barriers

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013 | technology, Uncategorized | Comments Off

You can overcome any barrier to e-learning

Teachers, do you feel that e-learning is not for you?

Do you believe that there are insurmountable barriers preventing you from using technology in your classrooms?

Most of the barriers you perceive are not real – they only exist in your mind.  And with a bit of effort you can overcome them.

Think about the following:

Barrier #1: My school does not have computer facilities for the learners and therefore e-learning is not possible.

So what?  Start building your own digital skills so that when technology devices become available for the learners, you will know how to use them to improve the classroom experience for them.  e-Learning starts with you, not with technology devices.

Barrier #2: The children in my class know more about technology than I do.

Use this situation to your advantage.  Children love to show off their skills.  Remember, a conductor of an orchestra is not a master of all musical instruments, but draws on the skill of each expert musician to produce beautiful music.  Even with a basic understanding of technology (but with your experience of teaching) you can transform your classroom into an interactive symphony.

Barrier #3: I am technically challenged.

Get over it!  Years ago many of us said that we will never be able to use a cell phone … and look at us today!  If you put your mind to it, also this barrier will dissolve.

The real barriers to e-learning are not a lack of money, or a lack of physical resources, or a lack of a background in technology, but rather an unwillingness to get out of a cosy, comfortable corner and taking the effort to learn to use new tools.

Tags: barriers, e-learning, teachers

A revision tool for matric learners

Monday, October 29th, 2012 | software | Comments Off

Learners at school spend 12 years building up to that big moment – Matric! And then the exams are upon them and they are overwhelmed. They have so much revision to do, where do they start?  EasyPass is a handy tool for teachers and learners to ease the pain.

The EasyPass mission is simple: to help Matriculants find out what they do and don’t know. And while they are finding out, they are learning because they will get feedback on each question.  Once they know where they are weak, they can go back to their textbooks or ask their teacher for help. The learner can also go back to the assessments to measure their knowledge gain after revisiting the material, because they are allowed to complete each test up to five times.

The target market is both individual learners as well as schools. The questions are developed by subject-matter experts, usually teachers who have retired or are pursuing other interests.

EasyPass is keen to work with underperforming schools to help them improve their matric marks, and in turn improve the learner’s chance of future success.

For more information, go to the EasyPass website, or email Moira de Roche at moirad@easypass.co.za.

Tags: assessment, e-learning, matric, software

New e-learning book for teachers

Thursday, July 5th, 2012 | e-Learning pioneers, education | 2 Comments

>>>>>-<<<<<

The book is entitled “Teaching and e-Learning in the South African Classroom” and is published by MacMillan.  It was launced as an e-book and can be ordered on-line.  Hard copies will be available soon.

Tags: book, e-learning, teacher

What are the show-stoppers of technology in schools?

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 | e-Learning pioneers, technology | 4 Comments

A show-stopper in a theatre is an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down.  It is something positive, a WOW moment.  But some shows are also stopped by BOO moments, when something so terrible happens that the show simply can’t go on.

What can stop teachers from using technology in the classroom?  What are the BOOs that can bring down the curtain on teaching and learning through technology?

Don't let the curtain come down on the bright light of technology

 

Here are three potential show stoppers:

The technology does not work and nobody is around to fix it.

The teacher does not know how to use the technology.

Appropriate material for use in the classroom is not available.

What can YOU do to make sure that the e-learning show goes on?

Tags: e-learning, technology

A national agency for e-learning?

Saturday, April 16th, 2011 | education, ICT in Africa | 1 Comment

It has been reported that provincial education departments are to be stripped of their responsibility to procure textbooks for their schools.  The Basic Education Minister of Education, Angie Motshekga,  said:

“We will appoint a national agency to manage the central procurement of teaching-support materials, to deliver on our promise of one textbook per child per subject”.  

 Mothshekga indicated that this agency will be established during the current financial year.

The national minister of Basic Education takes control of textbooks

Should the Minister not likewise establish an agency to establish e-learning in all schools in our country?

Tags: e-learning, education, ICT in Africa

Why should I concern myself with e-learning?

Friday, December 24th, 2010 | technology | Comments Off

Ask a dozen people for their understanding of e-learning and you are bound to receive a dozen different answers.  All agree that it has something to do with learning by means of technology – the e represents the electronic aspect – but there is no consensus about what is included or excluded. 

Some insist that e-learning can only happen when learners have access to the internet. A more common understanding is that e-learning is a catch-all term, covering a wide range of electronic instructional material that can be installed on a single computer or a local area network, or delivered on a CD or DVD, or accessed via the internet. This may include computer based training where learning material is presented solely on the computer, but other occasions where teachers use technology for teaching also qualify as e-learning.  This means that e-learning can take place in the presence or absence of a teacher.

Why should you concern yourself with e-learning?

Before you think about e-learning for your learners, you must think about it as something for yourself.  Many learning opportunities are open to you if you accept e-learning – for example, if you were to enroll for a post graduate distance learning course today you can be sure that it will contain an e-learning component.  For the sake of your own life-long learning you must come to grips with the use of electronic tools.

E-learning is also a valuable mode of instruction for your learners.  Consider the following:

Learners need to be equipped with computer skills.  E-learning acts as a double-edged sword: while learners learn the subject matter – such a science, mathematics and languages – they pick up computer skills.

Learning styles of learners are changing.  They use technology for communication and entertainment – it is not unrealistic to believe that they will use it for learning as well.

You may not have the capacity to teach them.  Owing to big class sizes, curriculum changes and an occasional demand that you teach a subject with which you are not familiar, your may feel a need to provide your learners with additional learning opportunities – e-learning can fill this gap.

Around the globe e-learning is becoming such an important learning method, that we will soon be dropping the e.  After all, the emphasis is on learning – the medium is of less importance.

For more technology tips for teachers click here.

Tags: e-learning, learners, teachers, technology

Technology in schools during the teacher strike …

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 | technology | 3 Comments

Good reports are coming in of learning taking place in schools in the Western Cape in spite of teachers being on strike.  Computer facilities are made available to learners and through the use of e-learning material meaningful learning is happening.

Well done to those e-pioneers who are harnessing technology to ensure that the dispute between teachers and the government has a minimal impact on learners.

        (Created by Kobus van Wyk, using www.MakeBeliefsComix.com)

Tags: e-learning, learners, teachers, technology

Why should teachers concern themselves with ICTs and e-learning?

Monday, May 10th, 2010 | ICT in Africa | 6 Comments

Is it necessary for teachers to learn how to use technology in the classroom?

Yes, it is!

If you are a teacher, you should not only concern yourself with ICTs and e-learning, but also become a skilled user of them.  There are good reasons for doing so.

Our schools – with their teachers and learners – must move towards digital inclusion.

Learners need to be equipped with twenty-first century skills.

Learning styles of children are changing.

Owing to the shortage of teaching capacity, we need technology to fill the gap.

Over the next few days I will blog about these four aspects.  Can you think of more reasons why it is important for teachers to concern themselves with technology?

Tags: e-learning, ICT in Africa, teachers

Are you an e-learning warrior?

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 | e-Learning pioneers | 2 Comments

The e-pioneer is a warrior.

The road of an e-pioneer is not always easy.  Many stumbling blocks – even enemies – are encountered along the way.

At times the e-pioneer must assume the role of a warrior.  The war is not against people but against attitudes, emotions and practices standing in the way of e-learning.  When these enemies hinder a follower to make progress, the warrior will display courage, determination and skill to fight against them.  The purpose of the battle is to protect the follower – to allow e-learning to flourish.

How many enemies have you encountered?  Here is an example of the start of an A-B-C hit-list:

apathy

bureaucracy

catagelophobia (fear of being ridiculed)

doubt

education tradition

fear

give-get syndrome

Make your own list – from A to Z – and display it so that you are constantly reminded of the lurking enemies and your commitment to be an e-learning warrior.  Please share your list with us!

Click here for more food for thought for e-pioneers.

Tags: e-learning, e-pioneer

e-mail, e-book, e-learning …. e- pioneer

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 | e-Learning pioneers | 4 Comments

What is the correct way to refer to electronic mail in writing?  Is it eMail, email, e-mail or electronic mail?

It seems as if most dictionaries, publishers and writers have standardized on e-mail.  The same is true of e-book, e-learning, e-literate, e-commerce and any other e-thingy.

Don’t forget the hyphen (-). Get into the habit of using it when you write reports or e-mails.

Dear John,

Thank you for your prompt response to my e-mail …

In view of this convention in writing, I believe it will be in order to talk about an e-pioneer – using the term e-learning pioneer seems so long-winded.  And perhaps e-pioneer is a more apt term to describe those people who go into schools to encourage the use of digital resources, including e-books and e-mail – their work is not only about e-learning.

Viva, all e-pioneers.

Tags: e-book, e-learning, e-literate, e-mail, e-pioneer