Hi there
I have been doing some reflection on the purpose of my blog... and I want to share some aspects with you guys.
The last time I signed into my own blog and I saw that sort of lifeless page I felt really bad and I am not referring to background and colours, I am referring to the purpose of it. The way I saw it I could not think myself of a reason why someone would be interested in following my blog...so, I decided to move one step backwards and re-start. Why the blog? I need to have the interaction with a community that shares similar interests with me, in this specific case: e-Learning. If I am not able myself to acknowledge the advantages of learning cooperative networking what would be the point of "e-Learning"?
The background: We have come quite far with a blended version of distant & e-learning with this MPhil HSE programme and I am sure you will agree with me when I say: "IT WORKS!". We have used ourselves quite a wide range of e-learning modalities so far and it's about time that we make a reflection on all the advantages of travelling through the MPhil HSE using the e-settings. We have been far from each other, yet we have regular interactions, we have been able to use whichever our restricted available time we could save from our lives for the learning... The way I see things now is more integrated, all was there but bits by bits. Starting from the "contextualizing HSE module" we are aware that among the current trends in education, higher education and health sciences education, the e-Learning comes to play an important role: I mean, how do we face shortage of staff?, how do we face shortage of resources (human and materials)?, how do we face globalization and integration into larger communities? how do we help students to selective do the learning they need in their own environment and conditions? How do we ensure broad free access to info and learning? and so on... so many questions which can be simply answered with: e-Learning.
If we follow our path through the MPhil you will probably notice that each and every module has an impact on the e-Learning, actually those impacts are not unidirectional, for example "how the human brain learns": the theory bumps into e-learning and the e-learning applies it and bumps back into the learning theories, they provide facts which constitute supportive evidence for each other.
Why e-Learning? I am sure by now you can add to the following reasons, you can take it as a formal invitation...
- it's happening in real time at anytime
- it's collective, collaborative and interactive, networking
- it facilitates learning in many ways and helps in learning association, integration
- it facilitates administration (registration, evaluation, learning progress including the record keeping)
- it maximizes the use of the best available resources
Let's keep it simple, I will stop here, in the next post I want to share with you the "how and why" of my selection for the final assignment of the e-Learning module.
Be back soon!
Wow Ernesto! That was some reflection. I completely agree with you and find that I too have started to see the relevance of e-learning in our course, not just as the teaching and learning strategy used in the MPhil program, but it's link to each of the modules.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of this year, I honestly felt that we had been thrown into the deep end in terms of what was required of us in comparison to last years' work. However, as you have so succinctly put it, every module has provided supportive evidence for each subsequent module!
I like your numeric summary of e-learning. Perhaps your blog today is the start of a very interesting article for a journal such as creative education.
I'm looking forward to seeing what it is you have reflected on for your assignment.....as I have been enjoying sharing this reflective process with the rest of our colleagues who are engaging with this interesting topic.
Yep, Blanco, I also agree your reflection let me stunned, for you mention what were the most important facts on our module. Yet, you have not said what sort of e-learning course do you plan to work in. I am just curious. There are some theoretical aspects in our field very difficult to illustrate or delivery, even face-to-face. So, our task is really a challenge!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add in my previous comment, you are very good applying theory to practice. You have applied in your reflection, why do we need to be familiar with e-learning! I think it really matters! Congrats, man!
ReplyDeleteI cannot but agree with Physiokeiller and Mirta - what a strong post, linking theory and practice!
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that the programme as a whole scaffolds so that each new module provides a basis for the next. This makes it easier (or more understandable) like Physiokeiller says in her comment, to successfully complete a last module (before the research module of course) so late in the programme.
It is not strange that many of the issues that were dealt with throughout the programme will resurface in this module, as it is after all about e-LEARNING. If this is the only thing we all learn (that we can use the basic tenets of learning and apply and supplement them with technology's affordances) we will have been successful in taking learning in the medical disciplines forward in the future.
May I add another point to your impressive list: it can also facilitate meaningful assessment.
Does anybody else want to add more points to e-Learner's list?
Also keen to hear exactly what you are going to focus your sights on for your project.
Best of luck!