How Will Online Learning Change in 2009?

[Vanessa Crary Vaile]

From: About.com: 2009 may be a big year for online learning. Many older professionals are enrolling in distance learning programs to improve their employability in the troubled economy. What else will change? eLearn Magazine recently published a list of predictions (http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=72-1) from education experts. Here are a few: "More technology, but not necessarily more sense about how to use it. Today, in these harsh economic times, there is pressure to reduce costs." "2009 is the year when the cellphone—not the laptop—will emerge as the learning infrastructure for the developing world." "A ruined economy will demand trained workers and college degrees will matter less than real abilities. Schools will have to offer to train students to do actual jobs, and they will do this online." Circumstance and technology can change online learning faster than traditional classroom-based education. It will definitely be interesting to see how far we come in the next 12 months.

[David]

Fascinating predictions and thanks for the link to elearnmag.org
Vanessa. I can't imagine that education could get any more job-
oriented than it already is but what do I know?

If indeed the cellphone is going to be the educational medium of
choice we'd better get on board. I'm not sure it will be though ---
the screen is small and most people don't want to study while they are
on the move. Still, it's exciting to have a computer/internet in
one's pocket... really amazing.....

[Debby]

If I read that correctly, it said the cellphone will be the
infrastructure choice for the DEVELOPING world. To me that means that
in countries that still have only iffy Internet service, where the
electric grid is unstable, and people can't afford to be undating
computers, the cellphone can provide an alternative medium for getting
information out. A cell tower is a lot easier to maintain than a
complex network of either copper or fiber optic cables (I say this as
a retired telecom manager - network maintenance can be complicated and
costly). While I absolutely agree with Dave that the cellphone screen
is inadequate for reading texts, and the cellphone keypad would be a
horrible means of writing a whole term paper, there could still be a
lot of useful educational applications, especially for people who
don't have ready access to more traditional educational media.
Cellular technology has brought telecommunications access to many
areas of developing countries that were either inadequately served or
not served at all. Some imaginative and determined people should be
able to come up with a number of alternative educational possibilities
using cellular technology. Here in the US where we have so many other
options we may decide that the inconveniences outweigh the benefits.

> > interesting to see how far we come in the next 12 months.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Dilip Barad]

I do believe that cell-phones will overtake laptop is its race for providing
education through technology. And I believe it from the point of view of
teaching English as Second or foreign language. While teaching language,
listening and speaking skills needs to be honed. Cell - phone can be the
best instrument for these purposes. Recording tools and Audio players can be
used to develop speaking and listening skills. Writing long term papers can
be a problem but writing short answers can be adopted for teaching through
cell-phones. SMS text can be used to develop writing skills. Mobile
dictionaries are very handy to develop vocabulary. Reading of SMS text or
websites can help to develop reading skills. Emailing is really at our
finger tips with applications like yahoo!go or Gmail mobile apps.
The best of all is Mobile phone is easy to carry and use as compared to
laptop. GPRS internet connectivity helps to remain connected through the web
world. Thus there are several advantages which can be of great use in
teaching language.

Dilip Barad, Ph.D.
Dept. of English
Bhavnagar University
Gujarat - INDIA
www.dilipbarad.com
www.wikiducator.org/user:Dilipbarad

[David Winet]

Ah, interesting point -- I hadn't realized that but of course more people
in developing countries have cell-phone access than
computer access (or computers).

I noticed my students now use their cell-phone dictionaries all the time.
However that begs the question of how this cell-phone based education is
actually going to happen (principally if there's enough sense of
social obligation from students to make it happen. Of course the threat of
low grades/not passing, etc. will probably come to the rescue as it
always has.....)

[efler]

I agree with Dilip that mobile learning is moving forward at an
extraordinary rate.
In many countries the internet is something you do on your phone,
rather than struggling with unreliable connections in an internet
cafe. In other places fast networks facilitate learning wherever and
whenever. Did you know several of the top-selling books in Japan were
written on mobile phones? (http://tinyurl.com/3xpf37)
In the UK all phones on sale in 2010 will have internet access.
Many UK schools discourage the use of phones but the pupils all have
devices that can be used to speak, listen, read and write as well as
record, film, photograph and share. The possibilities for
collaborative creative projects are vast, and so are the challenges
for teachers.

Regards

Steve

[Dilip Barad]

Steve,
Your facts of best seller book in Japan written on mobile phone and mobiles
in 2010 in UK will have inet access is wonderful. Yes, I agree, all four
skills - LSRW - can be enhanced more effectively with the help of mobile
than laptop.

Dilip Barad
www.dilipbarad.com
www.wikieducator.org/user:Dilipbarad

-----Original Message-----
From: tipstri...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:tipstri...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of efler
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 12:53 AM
To: TipsTricks2009
Subject: Re: How Will Online Learning Change in 2009?

[Vanessa]

True but those of us with older eyes will continue to prefer - even
NEED - larger screens. I wonder if all learners will be comfortable
with learning on the go, so to to speak. It will, however, be huge
advantage for commuters and others for whom even traditional online
classes are impossible for them. Anything that expands education
opportunity is a plus, but I rather suspect that instead of one system
becoming dominant, a number will co-exist, varying according to
regional and individual learning needs. Cost is another important
factor.

Vanessa

On Jan 27, 7:34 pm, "Dilip Barad" <dilipba...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I do believe that cell-phones will overtake laptop is its race for providing
> education through technology. And I believe it from the point of view of
> teaching English as Second or foreign language. While teaching language,
> listening and speaking skills needs to be honed. Cell - phone can be the
> best instrument for these purposes. Recording tools and Audio players can be
> used to develop speaking and listening skills. Writing long term papers can
> be a problem but writing short answers can be adopted for teaching through
> cell-phones. SMS text can be used to develop writing skills. Mobile
> dictionaries are very handy to develop vocabulary. Reading of SMS text or
> websites can help to develop reading skills. Emailing is really at our
> finger tips with applications like yahoo!go or Gmail mobile apps.
> The best of all is Mobile phone is easy to carry and use as compared to
> laptop. GPRS internet connectivity helps to remain connected through the web
> world. Thus there are several advantages which can be of great use in
> teaching language.
>
> Dilip Barad, Ph.D.
> Dept. of English
> Bhavnagar University

> Gujarat - INDIAwww.dilipbarad.comwww.wikiducator.org/user:Dilipbarad