Cosmin’s Blog

We’re coming to an end, so I’m trying a short X-Ray of the e-Learning course.

First, it was a new experience for myself. A total new paradigm of learning that I was used with. I graduated a system that is not based on this type of courses. Since then, I intersected many times with e-Learning, in different forms, starting with training DVD’s or online tutorials, but never in a more evolved manner. In other words, e-learning was an important part of developing my work, even though I didn’t realize that.

When I decided to follow this course I had low expectations. I thought it’s not a big deal and I didn’t see how this was supposed to help me. About a month before I started this course I was asked to analyze the developing of a website and come with solutions. That website contained an e-Learning as well, so I realized that I have to find out more… I never planned to become an e-learning course designer, since I’m not much involved in educational projects. We don’t have many specialists in this field, and our Universities don’t cover this area, as far as I know. Because of that I didn’t treat this course as someone who wants to continue doing this in the future. When I developed my contract, my goal was to be able to understand the principles of e-Learning, to be able to analyze and evaluate such a course and even to develop one if needed.

I scanned the other groups courses and evaluations and I found them interesting. They covered different topics and it’s obvious that there is no limit in covering all possible subjects. From how to use blogs in e-learning, to the football knowledge and techniques; from environmental and ecology issues to social issues related to the use of technology; from the teamwork principles to photograph, powerpoint use, animals farm, or collaborative tools. They covered a large area of interest, some are more developed then others, focused on children or students, these courses proved to be valuable exercises.

My artistic eye found a common characteristic of these courses: the lack of visual expression and the way the information is organized so it can be easily identified on the page. The Internet today is a great tool for e-learning and it’s more about content then graphics. That is very true and we’re on a right track. I don’t know how others are, but for me, the first look is crucial. If I don’t see what’s important in a first look, it is very probably to click away. More attention to details will make a difference in the future. This is where creative people interfere as part of the teamwork. This was the place I was supposed to get involved more, but my communications skills in such an heterogeneous group seemed to be very poor.

If I am to draw the line, these e-learning course was a benefit for me. I didn’t take the best out of it, all the benefits, but at least, I reached my goal. I know that if I will ever work in this field, I need to dig deeper, but at least I can say that I have a foundation. The understanding of what is behind is very important for me. It opens my eyes to see the benefits of this type of education, different from what I knew and up to date in a world of technology and web 2.0 in a continuous developing. I can say that I’m able to analyze and evaluate such a course and if needed, I can help designing one. I still have to work to my “Lonely Ranger” syndrom, but this course helped me a lot.

The use of collaborative tools, esspecially blogs, feeds, wikis helped me a lot in my everyday work. I can’t say that for other iCamp tools.

Thanks

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 14th, 2008 at 12:50 pm and is filed under 1. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.