1. E-Learning in
Higher Education
Gráinne Conole
National Teaching
University of Leicester Fellow 2012
19th October 2012
New technologies and education for multilingualism
European Parliament, Brussels

2. Outline
• E-Learning timeline
• Technologies trends
• Learning Management Systems
• Teacher practice and paradoxes
• Learning Design
• Some examples
• Conclusion

3. E-learning – a definition
The development and
research of the application
of technologies in
education
Conole and Oliver, 2007, Contemporary perspectives in e-learning

4. Multimedia resources
80s
93
The Internet and the Web
Learning Management Systems
95
Mobile devices
98
Gaming technologies
00
E-Learning timeline
01
Open Educational Resources
Social and participatory media
04
Virtual worlds
05
07
E-books and smart devices
08
Massive Open Online Courses

5. Technological trends
• Mobiles and e-books
• Personalised learning
• Cloud computing
• Ubiquitous learning
• BYOD (Bring your own device)
• Learning analytics

6. Google glasses project
• Can ‘see’ the Internet on
glasses
• Context sensitive
information
• Context lenses planned

7. Learning Management Systems
Communication
Library Content
tools
Registration
Collaboration Assessment
Finance
tools tools
Timetabling
Student Upload Tracking
records tools tools
Conole, forthcoming, UNESCO briefing paper

8. Forums
• Provides a space for structured
asynchronous and moderated
discussion
• Forum for question and answer
sessions
• Can be used as an informal
social space
http://edublogs.org/2010/07/07/using-forums-for-learning/

9. Blogs
• An online, chronological
collection of personal
commentary and links
• Sequential posts of content
and multimedia
• Facility to add comments
• Can be used to foster
reflection
• Group blogs to aggregate
resources
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7006.pdf
http://www.flickr.com/photos/acroamatic/310140834/

10. Wikis
• Web space that can be viewed
and modified by a group
• Promotes asynchronous
communication and
collaboration
• A shared space for group
activities
• A record of who has
contributed
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli7004.pdf
http://shtmteacherswiki.pbworks.com/f/1158829114/wiki%20in%20classes-1.jpg

11. Comparison
Discussion Forums Blogs Wikis
• Structured and • Reflective space • Knowledge
moderated • Aggregation of gathering and
discussion resources sharing
• Problem Solving • Portfolio of • Collaboration and
• Brainstorming learning group work
• Quick response to achievements • Aggregation of
questions • Share ideas with resources
• FAQs at start of a the wider • Record of
module/course community contributions
• Promotion of new • Relating theory to
ideas and concepts practice in a work-
based context

12. Promise and reality
Social and
participatory media
offer new ways to
communicate and
collaborate
Not fully exploited
Wealth of free Replicating bad pedagogy
resources and tools
Lack of time and skills

13. Learning Design
Guidance
Shift from belief-based, implicit
approaches to design-based, explicit
approaches
Learning Design
A design-based approach to
creation and support of
courses
Encourages reflective, scholarly
practices
Visualisation sharing and discussion
Promotes Sharing

14. Institutional External
context context
Learning Design of a
Learning Activity
Teacher Learner
practice characteristics
Technology Pedagogies
affordances http://openclipart.org/

15. Course Features
http://linoit.com

16. Course Map
Course/module summary:
Key words:
Guidance and support Content and experience
Tools & resources Responsibilities & relationships Tools & resources Responsibilities & relationships
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.
Reflection and demonstration Communication and collaboration
Tools & resources Responsibilities & relationships Tools & resources Responsibilities & relationships
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.

17. Activity Profile
• Assimilative (Read, view, listen)
• Information Handling
• Communicative
• Productive
• Experiential
• Adaptive
• Assessment
http://tinyurl.com/ActivityProfileFlash

18. Storyboard
http://linoit.com

19. Evaluation
Ming Nie

20. E-Assessment, drill and practice

21. Mobile learning
Study calendars
E-books
Learning resources
Online modules
Annotation tools
Mind mapping tools
Communication mechanisms

22. Collective intelligence

23. Situated learning and role play
Archeological digs
Medical wards
Art exhibitions
Cyber-law
Virtual language exchange
Beyond formal schooling

24. Immersive learning

25. 100 million adults can’t afford
university (UNESCO)
Image by James Cridland

26. Resource-based learning
• Over ten years of the Open
Educational Resource (OER)
movement
• Hundreds of OER
repositories worldwide
• Presence on iTunesU

27. The OPAL metromap
Evaluation shows lack of uptake
by teachers and learners
Shift from development to
community building and
articulation of OER practice
http://www.oer-quality.org/

28. Outputs
• Inventory of more than 100 OER initiatives
• 11 country reports and 13 mini-reports
• 7 in-depth case studies
• 3 EU-wide policy papers
• 7 options brief packs for EU nations/regions

29. Massive
Open
Online
Course
http://www.olds.ac.uk/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW3gMGqcZQc

30. Disaggregation of education
Resources Learning
pathways
Support Accreditation
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emclibrary/2459359483/

31. Open accreditation
Peer to Peer University OER University
www.p2pu.org/en/ wikieducator.org/OER_university/

32. Implications for institutions
• Disaggregation: resources,
learning pathways, support and
accreditation
• What is the role of traditional
institutions?
• Tension of institutionally
support systems and Cloud
services
• More open approaches to
learning, teaching and research
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssoosay/6738302627/

33. http://www.slideshare.net/GrainneConole
http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/beyond-distance-research-alliance
grainne.conole@le.ac.uk
http://e4innovation.com