Ebook Challenging E Learning In The University

"The COVID-19 pandemic has sent students and teachers home, and during the last several months they have learned to study and teach online. Hence, e-learning has become a hot issue and provides the theme for this book entitled Challenges and Opportunities of Online Learning. The aim of this book is to link theoretical approaches with practical experiences and inspire teachers, students, and researchers in the field of e-learning in higher education. By reading this book, teachers in higher education may learn lessons from colleagues' experience that may enable them to dare trying out new ways of e-learning. This book includes contributions from four continents - the USA, South America, Africa and Europe - and the authors detail technical considerations as well as provide the different perspectives on e-learning of faculty, teachers, and students"--

"Informed by an intimate knowledge of a social literacies perspective, this book is full of profound insights and unexpected connections. Its scholarly, clear-eyed analysis of the role of new media in higher education sets the agenda for e-learning research in the twenty-first century" Ilana Snyder, Monash University "This book offers a radical rethinking of e-learning … The authors challenge teachers, course developers, and policy makers to see e-learning environments as textual practices, rooted deeply in the social and intellectual life of academic disciplines. This approach holds great promise for moving e-learning past its focus on technology and 'the learner' toward vital engagement with fields of inquiry through texts." Professor David Russell, Iowa State University Challenging e-learning in the University takes a new approach to the growing field of e-learning in higher education. In it, the authors argue that in order to develop e-learning in the university we need to understand the texts and practices that are involved in learning and teaching using online and web-based technologies. The book develops an approach which draws together social and cultural approaches to literacies, learning and technologies, illustrating these in practice through the exploration of case studies. It is key reading for educational developers who are concerned with the promises offered, but rarely delivered, with each new iteration of learning with technologies. It will also be of interest to literacies researchers and to HE policy makers and managers who wish to understand the contexts of e-learning.

As schools continue to explore the transition from traditional education to teaching and learning online, new instructional design frameworks are needed that can support with the development of e-learning content. The e-learning frameworks examined within this book have eight dimensions: (1) institutional, (2) pedagogical, (3) technological, (4) interface design, (5) evaluation, (6) management, (7) resource support, and (8) ethical. Each of these dimensions contains a group of concerns or issues that need to be examined to assess and develop an institutions e-capability in order to introduce the best e-learning practices. Challenges and Opportunities for the Global Implementation of E-Learning Frameworks presents global perspectives on the latest best practices and success stories of institutions that were able to effectively implement e-learning frameworks. An e-learning framework is used as a guide to examine e-learning practices in countries around the globe to reflect on opportunities and challenges for implementing quality learning. In this book, therefore, tips for success factors and issues relevant to failures will be presented along with an analysis of similarities and differences between several countries and educational lessons. While highlighting topics such as course design and development, ICT use in the classroom, and e-learning for different subjects, this book is ideal for university leaders, practitioners in e-learning, continuing education institutions, government agencies, course developers, in-service and preservice teachers, administrators, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students seeking knowledge on how e-learning frameworks are being implemented across the globe.

through the selection of cases from institutions, it covers a wide range of QA systems and perspectives of quality in DE

The number of students taking online courses continues to grow each year. Despite the growth, a large percentage of faculties still don't accept the value of online learning. Online educators find themselves in exciting times where they continue advancing the dialogue about online learning, beyond the discussions of "is it as good as face-to-face instruction?" to more nuanced issues such as some of the various benefits, challenges, and misconceptions that go along with learning online. The purpose of this book is to address the various benefits, challenges, and misconceptions that coincide with online teaching and learning. The audience includes anyone with an interest in online learning, whether they are researchers, designers, instructors, or trainers. This book is organised into several themes that are current and emerging in the field of online learning, including student and instructor supports, instructional approaches, current trends and emerging technologies, reaching new audiences, and planning for the on-line learning environment.

This book provides an essential resource for both new and experienced teachers, trainers and lecturers looking to harness the benefits of technology in their approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. Those working across the Lifelong Learning Sector, including schools and universities, face increasing pressures in demonstrating their purposeful engagement with technology to provide outstanding teaching and learning, and professional standards place a clear emphasis on the demonstrable use of emerging technology. Underpinned by a theoretical and critical discussion, the book presents a rationale for the use of technology in today's 21st century classrooms as teaching practitioners prepare themselves for the arrival of technologically mature and digitally literate 21st century learners with high expectations of their learning journey. It offers 25 activities that are presented in a user-friendly and accessible format, illustrated with case studies from across the sector to bring the ideas to life. Each example demonstrates how freely and easily accessible technologies can be used to create engaging, interactive and learner centric lessons which promote retention, achievement and the development of digital literacies. Example technologies include: Social networking and micro-blogging PowerPoint alternatives The use of avatars and virtual characters Mobile devices and applications (apps) Creative technologies Whatever level of technical ability, teaching practitioners and those supporting learning in lifelong learning, schools and universities will find new and innovative ideas to easily and quickly enhance their approaches to creative teaching and learning with the use of technology. “This welcome book fills a real need within lifelong learning literature, through providing an exploration of the different ICT technologies available to students and teachers in the sector that combines the practical and applicable with the theoretical and reflective. Through the course of this book, the authors introduce and analyse a number of key theoretical themes, such as digital wisdom and digital literacy, providing an accessible entry point to rich and complex ideas. They also provide the reader with a considerable number of helpful summaries of readily available technologies that cover relevant topics such as presentations and e-portfolios, linking them to a critical understanding of pedagogy and inclusion. Throughout, the authors maintain a writing style that is always engaging and easy to follow, reinforced by practitioners’ case studies that demonstrate how e-learning can move from being the property of the technological fetishist to an aspect of the professional practice of all teachers in the lifelong learning sector. I cannot think of another book on this subject that has managed to accomplish this.” Dr Jonathan Tummons, Teesside University, UK “This book is an indispensable guide to the discovery and use of learning technologies for new and experienced teachers in the lifelong learning sector. The structure and presentation make it easy to navigate and a pleasure to read. There is a very useful overview of relevant learning theory and discussion of key issues relating to developments in technology. The heart of the book provides concise and accessible introductions to twenty-five learning technologies with ideas about integrating them into learning and teaching. This isn’t just a book about technology; it is, more importantly, a book about learning.” Peter Scales, University of Derby, UK “This book is addressed to practitioners in search of “digital wisdom” and I was immediately inspired to explore the activities with my students. It offers accessible but non-patronising information, definitions and terminology related to specific applications and tools. These are packaged in short 2-3 page sections that are easy to read and include practical tips and online links to the applications. Reflection points are built in throughout and each section includes an example of how the tool has been used by a classroom practitioner. The authors address their readers as creative practitioners who are, as a matter of course, looking for better, more exciting ways to learn and teach. The positive tone and clear writing de-mystifies the whole idea of using digital tools for learning and makes such explorations sound fun, easy and inevitable. Although the main idea is to offer quick access to techniques for classroom use these are put into context by a clear introduction that explains basic concepts of approaches to learning with technology and by a narrative running throughout that “connects the dots” of the specific applications. There is surely something here for everyone, no matter what the level of their existing expertise.” Mary Hamilton, Lancaster University, UK

"This is a wide ranging, clearly focused, accessible book that engages with the practices and findings of research into problem-based learning… The book is clear on the problems and the strategies, the debates and the research based practices which make PBL accessible wherever it is suitable for effective learning." Professor Gina Wisker, Anglia Polytechnic University "This book punctures the sometimes inflated rhetoric about PBL by exploring some of its inherent difficulties and contradictions, and moves debate on through critical glimpses of the rich and varied practices undertaken under the banner of PBL." Professor Graham Gibbs, University of Oxford "...provides a wealth of practical and theoretical insights into the challenges of using pbl which will be of value both to those currently using the approach and those thinking of introducing it into their programmes." British Journal of Educational Technology This book presents international research into Problem-based Learning within a range of subject and vocational disciplines, applications and cultures from a variety of perspectives: student, facilitator, module leader, curriculum designer.It presents a range of findings related to designing, implementing, assessing and evaluating PBL courses. Challenging Research in Problem-based Learning is key reading for academics and tutors utilising PBL, as well as those studying for teaching qualifications, lecturers involved in teaching for the professions and on continuing professional development courses. Contributors: Terry Barrett, Brian Bowe, John Cowan, Roisin Donnelly, Erik de Graaff, Chris Hockings, Bill Hutchings, Dan Jacobsen, Peter Kandlbinder, Sharron King, Ranald Macdonald, Claire Howell Major, Yves Maufette, Karen O’Rourke, Betsy Palmer, Maggi Savin-Baden, Charlotte Silén, Alexandre Soucisse, Kay Wilkie.

How can we design networked e-learning courses to ensure students participate in them and engage in quality learning outcomes? What happens in an e-learning course that is designed to foster group work and a sense of ‘community’? How can we research e-learning practice in ways that will enhance the processes of learning and teaching? This book outlines approaches to networked e-learning course design that are underpinned by a belief that students learn best in these contexts when they are organised in groups and communities. As such, the book is one of the first to provide a detailed analysis of what goes on in e-learning groups and communities. But how do students react to working in e-learning groups and communities? What determines their willingness to adopt new forms of learning in order to participate in these new courses? What actually happens in an e-learning community, and what impact does this have on students and tutors? This book examines these key questions through a variety of research approaches aimed at exploring the experience of e-learners as they participate in successful e-groups and communities. It also offers ways in which learning outcomes may be achieved in these communities and outlines the specific skills that students would develop through e-learning. E-learning Groups and Communities is essential reading for teachers, trainers, managers, researchers and students involved in e-learning courses as well as people interested in improving the quality of the learning experience.