The E-Learning BandwagonPolitics, Policies and Pedagogy

Sanjaya Mishra, PhDStaff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education

Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi

Why e-learning is so popular?

• Access to educational resources from outside the institution; • Quick and easy way to create, update and revise course materials;• Increased interaction with student through e-mail and discussion forums;• Location and time independent delivery of course materials;• Multimedia capabilities enabling instructional designers to prepare quality

learning materials;• Interactive and dynamic learning experience through online assessment

tools; • Platform independent delivery, accessible through any computer with a

simple browser interface;• Increased learner control through hypertext based presentation of

information;• Opportunities for international, cross-cultural and collaborative • learning; and• Ability to serve a large number of students at a potentially reduced cost.

What is e-learning?

(Source: © Sharma & Mishra, 2007)

Does it make any difference?

e-Learning

eLearninge-learning

E-Learning

E-learning

Standardization?

The Bandwagon

•Netvarsity http://www.netvarsity.com •Indira Gandhi National Open University http://www.ignou.ac.in•Yashwantrao Chavan Maharastra Open Universityhttp://www.ycmou.com•Tamil Virtual University http://www.tamilvu.org•Punjab Technical University http://www.ptuonline.com •Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences http://vu.bits-pilani.ac.in •Institute of Management Technology http://www.imtonline.org •Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning http://www.scdl.net •MedVarsity http://www.medvarsity.com •Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai http://www.dep.iitb.ac.in •Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi http://www.iitd.ac.in/courses

Premise 1

0.79 1.07 1.19 3.15.4

10.4

21.9

37.3

58.5

105.4

17.821.61

26.65

32.71

38.4341.48 42.84

46.19

40.51

1.4 2.85.5 7

16.5

22.5

39.2

50.6

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Nu

mb

er in

Mill

no

ns

Mobile

Landline

Internet

Figure 2: Telecommunication Infrastructure in India(Sources: http://www.internetworldstats.com, TRAI, 2005, and http://www.coai.com ))

Premise 1

•Access to technology is poor•Technology redundancy is high•RLO can’t replace teachers

There are politics in promotion of e-learning?

Premise 2

•Lone ranger approach•Lack of policies to promote e-learning•Access policies (Home computing policy of UKOU, home loans, CMC)

There are no policies to support e-learning?

Premise 3

Type 1Type 1 Type 2Type 2 Type 3Type 3

Web integrated in the classroom to supplement teaching

Web used in a mixed mode (as blended learning)

Web used independently as a stand alone system

Premise 3

Learning by Designing

Problem-Based

Learning

Case-Based Learning

Learning by Doing

Synchronous

TEXT TEXT

Asynchronous

Premise 3

Figure 3: Design framework for online learning environment(Source: © Mishra, 2002)

Premise 3

The pedagogies of e-learning are yet to unfold clearly?

CONSTRUCT

REFLECTINTERACT

EXPERIENCE

(Source: © Sharma & Mishra, 2007)

Lessons Learned

E-Learning: Effective Learning

Learner Centred TechnologyTeachers Content Pedagogy

Myths

E-Learning is cheap and cost-effective If we build it, they will come E-learning programmes can be developed quickly

Conclusions

•Indian Council for Online Learning •E-Learning consortium •Online training of teachers •Development of small re-usable learning objects by teachers