Week 2 - E-learning Research and Framework

With the advancement of the technology, student nowadays are no longer need to be in the classroom in order to learn. By using smart phone, tab or notebook, student can access their learning from everywhere as long as they have the wireless access or even the data connection. However, does the e-learning provide the same learning value as those who are learning in a traditional ways which is in a classroom? Or is it even possible for e-learning to replace the classroom learning?

Yes. Based on the articles reading, E-learning can indeed replace the classroom learning. Though the e-learning cannot interact in a real time like those in the classroom learning but they have overcome the limit by having a program called Virtual Mentor.They come out with this idea based on the constructivism theory, where the learning happen when the learner construct a new idea based on the previous experience. Thus, when ever the student have any questions that are related to the topic, they can type it up the keyword and it will bring them to the topic which have been synchronise with the previous articles. This action is similar to the act of asking question to the teacher in the classroom learning. By putting similar material in a synchronise manner, the student will be able to continue to construct a new knowledge from the previous knowledge that the already have. In a simple manner, the more they ask the Virtual Mentor, the more knowledge they will gain from the learning material.


Furthermore, as stated in the articles, although teacher or lecturer encourage the student to ask question, not many are able to do it since some needs much more time to digest the information that they just received. However, in e-learning, student can take their own time to re-read or re-watch the learning material as much as they want until they understand it. I think that one of the advantages having an e-learning classroom. Apart from that, not all student are confident or brave enough to ask question in classroom, so this system are indeed helping them to truly understand the learning material without disrupting the pace of the other learner and the class itself. They will also feel motivated as they can work at their own speed without having feeling left out or dejected by their slow comprehension of the learning material

The articles also touch on the issues of socio-cognitive theory. It stated that learning is mostly a socio cognitive activity where individual knowledge acquisition come from observing other and suggesting that e-learning might not be suitable for all. It is true, and I am not suggesting on abolishing the classroom learning either. However, if the e-learning system can reach the standard of a classroom learning, it will be a quite a paradigm shift. This is because, not everyone can attend the classroom learning for a various reason such as the long-time patient in the hospital or career people. So why must we deprive this people from quenching their thirst for knowledge? I believe that by having this e-learning system, it can help others to reach their potential on par with those who are using the classroom learning system.

Having an e-learning system as one way of learning should be considered as a good alternative for the learner. It will not only help others to fulfill their lifelong learning but also helping those who are unable to attend the normal, classroom learning to have an opportunity to expand their knowledge.

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Article Discussion "Can E-learning Replace Classroom Learning" By Dongsong Zhang, J. Leon Zhou, Lina Zhou and Jay F. Nunamaker J. (2004)

Source: http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=986216