Subject: Task3Discussion
Author: B
I could certainly relate my case in learning online to the reading in regards to e-learning and my thoughts as a student and even as an education technologist at the University of the South Pacific (USP).
After going over the three definitions by Broadbent, Rosenberg and ALIC, I thought my personal definition of e-learning is similar and kept simple like Broadbent’s, which is to do with “training, education, coaching, and information that is delivered digitally…synchronous/ asynchronous…”. However I would not think that discussion forums would be held synchronously, especially if they had international students enrolled, the University of South Queensland (USQ) course I took was asynchronous. I thought it was interesting Broadbent had looked at e-learning types and related it to conventional learning types. I would also add non-formal learning, such as through social networking.
In Rosenberg’s definition he recognised the use of “internet technologies… to enhance knowledge and performance.” But I do agree that it is prescriptive when he defines what is and is not e-learning and is definitely what my USQ course was like. However, I ended up printing out some of the reading material.
I felt the online course (and programme) provided by USQ was unique and not offered by USP. As mentioned as an ID I did need to upgrade my qualifications, unfortunately the content was not relevant to what we had at the current work place at the time, which was offering only print-based material. I certainly agree that in order to continue to stay relevant an ID needs to continue to keep up with changes and not to be comfortable with print-based material, which inevitably becomes a human resource development matter where job descriptions for IDs will change. However this does not only apply to IDs but also (senior) lecturers who seem to resist change.