Unfortunately I have missed the deadline for the 3d task which was to choose one of 16 pictures with different motives. This should have helped us to split up into 4 groups (I guess in this way one could have found people with similar interests or at least preferences). I would have chosen picture number 8 and would therefore belong to the nature-group. But as I’ve already mentioned, I’ve missed the deadline for the task and have then got a “vacancy” from Ralf in the sports-group (what I actually don’t regret:)).

Now, Ralf gave every group a certain task for the project work and ours is CBT vs. WBT (computer-based training vs. web-based training). It took us a couple of sessions to find the definitions & other informations and to sum up our opinions about both technologies. It’s time to make a presentation out of it in order to clear it up for the rest of the group.

Well, we have found a nice concept for our presentation: in order to make it visually comprehensible for the rest of the class we have decided to include small amounts of text (with definitions and key words) and two films illustrating the main features of CBT and WBT and the difference between them.

Selma visited me on Wednesday and we started working at our films. It was much fun and we did our best but there is still a lot of work left: my task is to edit the films (i hope i will find a possibility to cut them!), Selma is editing the texts and Simon has to take care of the slides…  

On Tuesday we had the first presentation: micro-learning and mobile-learning. What i’ve learned: micro-learning is a new term for an old learning concept – learning in small sequences. The idea is to integrate small learning units in everyday activities and leisure time or to refresh the learned material regularly; it is scientifically proved that we can stay concentrated during only a limited period of time; thus i suppose that this way we can achieve a better learning discipline and faster learning results. Advantage: our brain can save smaller amounts of information better that the bigger ones; it is also easier to stay concentrated if the learning unit lasts only e.g. ten minuts. The disadvantage: do we really have to be forced this way in order to suceed? Or isn’t it annoying to be forced to learn in every free minute of our lives?

An example of mobile-learning is the so-called sms-coaching. How it works: one gets e.g. in the morning an sms with certain information and several hours later a question that tests what he or she has remembered. The disadvantage: some people often keep their mobiles off or simply ignore sms and calls. Another good example is learning with the help of MP3 players etc. – this I’ve tried myself and it really works! This way one can learn anywhere, anytime. During the presentation I’ve mentioned the iTunes software; there one can download a lot of helpful podcasts in order to learn e.g. a foreign language absolutely for free! 

Now we have managed to sum up our thoughts and opinions about CBT and WBT; therefore, we have come to the conclusion that a combination of CBT and WBT, using the advantages of them both, might be the system of the future. Still i feel like my views somehow differ from the views of my colleagues because i come from a country where internet and things connected with it are just not taken for granted. I know that it’s quite a different attitude that German people have, because that grow up in a technically developed environment and such modern facilities as internet, flatrates etc are a part of their everyday routine…

Well, the conclusions have been made but still i’m not sure what our presentation will look like. I hope i won’t forget the sample CD for tomorrow.

Part 1: The Definition. I suppose that this aspect is more or less clear for everyone; we are a technically progressive generation and E-Learning is something that we at least intuitively understand. I have found numerous definitions and it’s hard to say which is the best one. I think that they all reflect the true vision of E-learning and just put it in different words. My favorite one is:

“The delivery of a learning, training or education program by electronic means. E-learning involves the use of a computer or electonic device (e.g. a mobile phone) in some way to provide training, educational or learning material”.

In my opinion, it’s brief and simple. It’s a kind of definition that everyone can understand and remember without having to learn it by heart. In case that one wants to go deeper into the definition, there’s a continuation:

“E-learning can involve a greater variety of equipment than online training or education, for as the name implies, “online” involves using the Internet or an Intranet. CD-ROM and DVD can be used to provide learning materials.

Distance education provided the base for e-learning’s development. E-learning can be “on demand”. It overcomes timing, attendance and travel difficulties.” (found on http://derekstockley.com.au/eindex2aa.html)

The only thing that is missing is probably an example of situations or institutions where eLearning can be used.

 I’ve found this argument also fair because it shows that eLearning has much more sides and aspects than some people think and that it is changing constantly : “Just when we thought we had e-learning all figured out, it’s changing again. After years of experimentation and the irrational exuberance that characterized the late 1990s, we find our views of e-learning more sober and realistic. This is a good sign; we can make more rational forecasts of how the field will evolve. It also presents some challenges, and the direction we are heading may not be the path we originally thought we were on.” (Marc Rosenberg, Learning Circuits, March 2006 found on www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/eclipse/Resources/whatise.htm)

Part 2: Expectations, Advantages and Disadvantages. I expect that eLearning makes the learning process faster, easier and more flexible (because it “overcomes timing, attendance and travel difficulties” ); that it enables easier access to information and offer tools how to work with it. A great advantage of eLearning is that it makes mobile learning possible; e.g. at places and in situations where conventional learning forms would not be available or would not work. The biggest disadvantage in the whole thing is in my opinion the fact that one needs a lot of self-discipline and good organization skills in order to work with eLearning.

Part 3: Good Settings for eLearning. The first setting is geographical – it could be learning while traveling. As I’ve already mentioned, mobile learning is one of the greatest advantages of eLearning. W-LAN, notebooks, mp3-players, smartphones etc. are all modern gadgets that enable learning while traveling. I’ve been thinking about long hours spent in a subway, train, waiting for a flight at the airport etc. that can be used for learning. eLearning makes it possible!

The second setting is physical – it was very topical for me recently. There are situations in which people cannot go to learning institutions because they are e.g. ill. Some years ago reading a book or watching TV was the only activity one could do while beeing sick, but eLearning has changed it. Now it is possible to stay up-to-date: to order books online from the library, to search for information for an essay, to learn foreign languages and even to take part on lessons via Skype. 

As I’ve already mentioned on the seminar’s web-page, I don’t have much experience with eLearning. Well, I do use PC and the Internet for my personal learning: I google, I use the wikipedia and I have some CD-ROMs with e.g. language courses or virtual dictionaries. But I’ve never thought about the possibility of bringing eLearning into schools and using it as a teacher. Perhaps the reason for it is either that I haven’t been really thinking of a teacher career in the future or that I come from a country where modern technologies are not available at such extend.

Why I’ve chosen this seminar anyway? Because I like the idea of taking part on a pedagogics-seminar which is fully different from everything that I have ever made in Ukraine. And of course I like dealing with PCs and the Internet.

My expectations: It would be great to learn new aspects of eLearning which I could use in order to make my own studies easier and more effective.