What's Learning 2.0?

The question of what is Learning 2.0 comes up alot in conversations. No better place to get a definition than a Web 2.0 Wiki. Or the Wiki of Wikis. Wikipedia.

The term e-Learning 2.0 is used to refer to new ways of thinking about e-learning inspired by the emergence of Web 2.0. From an e-Learning 2.0 perspective, conventional e-learning systems were based on instructional packets that were delivered to students using Internet technologies. The role of the student consisted in learning from the readings and preparing assignments. Assignments were evaluated by the teacher.

In contrast, the new e-learning places increased emphasis on social learning and use of social software such as blogs, wikis, podcasts and virtual worlds such as Second Life.

E-learning 2.0 assumes that knowledge (as meaning and understanding) is socially constructed. Construction takes place through conversations about content and grounded interaction about problems and actions. Advocates of social learning claim that one of the best ways to learn something is to teach it to others.

So there you have it. Don't forget your Learning Technologies team have already launched many of these Web 2.0 platforms. If you haven't used some of these capabilities yet, get in touch.

e-Learning Trends 2008

Worth clicking over to Survey to view results from an interesting Survey on Trends in e-Learning that was conducted in November and December 2007. Learning Circuits and E-Learning News polled their readers on how they’re using e-learning in their organizations. Results are based on 293 responses. Some highlights include: over 60% use Authoring Tools and roughly 50% (like us) use LMS, Virtual Classroom and Testing Assessment Tools. It showed there is also a lot of room for outsourcing- with most technical support, web development and reporting taking place currently inhouse. Not surprisingly, it also showed employee buy-in, time commitment, and cost to maintain, as the biggest concerns when trying to rollout e-elearning. Other responses included "culture does not support e-learning" and e-learning is not perceived as "real training". Now where have we heard that before.

iPhone - will it revolutionize mobile learning?

Okay maybe not a revolution. More like an evolution. As I write this update via my wireless iTouch I can't help feeling this device is so suited to mobile learning, the big display, the snazzy browser, the audio/video features, the user friendliness, the interface, need I say more. If anyone wants to do a mobile pilot with the fab iPhone please give me a shout. Mobile learning has come of age...and it has an apple logo!

iLEARN Communities

Dont forget the cool new communities feature on your LMS iLEARN. Well worth a visit, not just to read what your training colleagues are discussing but to make your voice heard. Tell us what you think. Check out items on second life, learning technologies, content standards, web 2.0, and much much more.