| Conference |
| Type of Publication |
| Addressing problems in Virtual Learning Systems through
Collaboration |
| Title |
|
Elsab Cloete
|
| Authors |
| South African Institute of Computer Scientists and
Information Technologists (SAICSIT), Cape Town, South Africa, November 2000 |
| Published in |
| Due to the confluence of economic and
technological developments, there is a growing interest in
virtual learning. The availability of enabling technologies has
dramatically influenced the way we view the learning strategies
of the future. However, many experimenters of virtual learning
find this environment very demanding and sometimes downright
frustrating. In this paper, we describe three pillars that form a
basis for electronic learning systems, namely the
telecommunication technologies, the virtual support system, and
the instructional issues. We point out a number of the challenges
that can seriously hamper virtual learning efforts. Some of these
challenges include: the constraints in the synchronous and
asynchronous learning environments, problems associated with
support infrastructures, meeting expectations of students,
instructional resources, services and utilities, pedagogical
approaches, etc. We use a technology adoption curve, to
illustrate that some components in virtual learning are still in
infancy and therefore large investments of money and/or energy
might lead to frustration and disappointment. We then proceed
with a number of suggestions on how to overcome some of the
challenges in virtual learning situations while keeping the
current stage of the technological developments in mind. In
conclusion we describe how we managed to solve some of these
problems through a collaborative effort between the University of
Mannheim (Germany) and UNISA (South Africa), in which "old"
static paper-based material were converted almost effortless into
"new" dynamic web-based material with specially designed
tools. |
| Abstract |
Architectures for educational technology systems,
Distance education, Telelearning, Interactive learning
environments, Teaching/Learning strategies |
| Keywords |
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| Downloads & Bib-Entries |
