1. THE WORLD IS OPEN : CJ Bonk [2009]
Chapter 3 : E-Demand Around the Globe
Opener # 2 E-Learning and Blended Learning
A Synthesis
by
Jane Nkosi
26 October 2011
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2. E-LEARNING AND BLENDED LEARNING
 Why Blend?
 Learners do not learn in the same way
 Combining delivery modes enhances learning
 Blended learning opens opportunities for
collaboration
Check here what Dr. Bonk has to say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQZ9vMLSCS8
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3. E-LEARNING AND BLENDED LEARNING
FROM THE CRADLE
 Distance between instructor and learner has
always been but technology closes the gap.
 In Plato’s time it was the invention of writing;
 A millennium later Norwegian instructors
shipped materials to distance learners;
 With more diversification print, radio, telegraph,
T.V. & computers came to the fore.
 Now the internet & various types of media bring
learners and instructors together.
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4. DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIVERSITY
 A new diverse clientele has emerged requiring an equally
diverse provision of instruction.
 They need open access & re-skilling to meet new demands.
 New resources are changing dynamics in the education
landscape.
 This the time when “the work done by correspondence will
be greater … than that done in the classroom…” (Bonk p92).
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5. IS IT A REVOLUTION?
 Ivan Illich noted the ineffectiveness of schooling in
Deschooling Society & advocated -
 a right to learn for everyone;
 a new way of thinking about education ;
 Education should
be self directed,
allow learning from others
 be caring .
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6. IS IT A REVOLUTION? Cont…
 According to Illich there are 3 purposes of good
education; it should :
Offer unlimited resources to learners;
Allow sharing of knowledge and expertise;
Allow free expression of ideas;
 In short school should be open & flexible.
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7. WHAT DO NEW TECHNOLOGIES OFFER?
 Technologies offer access & flexibility;
 They connect the students;
 They enhance participation among (any time any
where);
 Learners can have access to guest experts;
 They can even engage with experts in video
conferencing.
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8. WHAT NEW TECHNOLOGIES OFFER? Cont…
 Learners can share with many instructors around the
world;
 many instructors are opening up education & are
willing to share knowledge.
 Online Learning allows individuality as it is self paced.
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9. A COURSE FUNERAL ?
This is a real shift in educational thinking
 new types of media open the world and empower the learner
e.g. You Tube , Facebook, twitter etc.
 Integrating new technologies
 opens learning
 removes confinement of lockstep programs & teacher-
dependence
 Empower the learner
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10. A COURSE FUNERAL ? Cont…
 As informal learning is 70 – 80 % of learning the idea
of a standard course is dying.
 Learning should meet learners’ goals & allow :
 just-in time & on-demand curricular;
 readily available information & easy access.
 learners to download just what they need when they
need it
 Instructional delivery should appeal to the 21St century
learner.
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11. NotSchool
 In line with Illich’s thinking, Heppell started
NotSchool in 2001;
 It helps learners who do not fit to the traditional
mode of school.
 It opens access to individuals who have not done
well in regular schooling.
 It is a new model of education [learners are
‘researchers’ & teachers ‘mentors’].
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12. E-LEARNING IN SCHOOLS
 Interest in e-learning is growing in schools.
Indiana Ocean
 In 2007 Project tomorrow found that:
 ½ of high school and 1/3 of middle school children were
interested in online courses not offered { they can learn
at own pace & follow personal interest}
 Interest was not as high among teachers though they
noted online learning makes a difference
 42% of parents say this would be a good investment
 Indiana University High School is the largest online
high school enrols about 4,000
 Other states are following the model
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13. LEAPS AND BOUNDS
 The world opens in Florida
 Florida Virtual School (FLVS), the first K-12 online
school boasts of 52000 students from its beginnings of
6000 students
 It uses choice technological tools to promote learning
 It is a model school to other schools & collaborates with
other states to open the world further
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14. E-LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION
E-learning gains momentum in higher education.
 Some institutes use the opportunity to showcase best
practices in e-learning e.g. University of Tampere in
Finland, York University in Toronto and OUM in
Malaysia.
 They open more doors through an array of
technologies & delivery methods that engage and
empower learners.
 This allows for flexible work schedules, real time
chats, video conferencing et
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15. IMPACT OF THE INDIANA MODEL
 Students are from diverse backgrounds.
 Learners can learn any where e. g. a family took their
children on holiday & children did not fall behind
school. Online courses provided the answer. (see p101
– 103)
 IUHS is now creating programs for adults who never
finished high school
 Is also partnering with other institutions.
 Other countries are emulating this model of education
e.g. Nigeria, India, China.
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16. MANDARIN IN MICHIGAN
 Michigan is embracing technology and connects with
trends in the world.
 It has passed to make it mandatory for high school
students to take at least one course online.
 More doors open as students engage in online field
trips, blogs and chats.
 They can check their progress in electronic portfolios.
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17. MANDARIN IN MICHIGAN cont…
 Confucius institute supports teaching mandarin to k12
students
 It is opening learning to other cultures.
 Anyone can learn the language through phone casting;
 Mandarin can be taught through interactive online
games and in second life
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18. MIND EXTENSIONS
 Denver has a high growth of technology companies
and technologically skilled people
 Many help others learn about the emerging
technologies. e.g. Jones Knowledge group Ltd.
 Jones’ company started from very humble beginnings
but succeeded with determination.
 Jones was the first to deliver courses into homes via
cable TV – opening the world to many.
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19. E-LEARNING IN FOR-PROFIT
UNIVERSITIES
 The growth of e-learning is spilling over; big
corporations like IBM, Microsoft & Oracle use blended
learning for training.
 Higher education institutions like the University of
Pretoria use the same.
 The trend is catching in adult education
 The University of Phoenix has over 100 campuses and
160 learning centres.
 It has 330,000 students; 200,000 online
 More are dropping in not out e.g. Prof. Bowell (40+)
aspires to attain a PhD.
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20. DEMOCRATIZING EDUCATION
 Jones believes
The classroom is the front room,
 Educational opportunities are visible to all;
 Our wilderness of information should be seen
as our new frontier( p. 123).
 We should infuse “our knowledge society “
with electronic tools and information
repositories.
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21. E- LEARNING IN A PUPLIC UNIVERSITY
Online Learning springs to Life
 The University of Illinois at Springfield offers options
for online or face to face learning.
 It has 16 degree programmes and 4 blended.
 Online learners are on average 9 years older than f2f
learners; { this is the case also in Florida, New York,
Tennessee etc}
 Blended courses give options as learners at come from
all over the country;
 It is a shift in thinking about teaching & learning
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22. E-LEARNING IN A
PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
 UIS has global impact –
Learn any where
choice of where to learn,
what, how, when, with whom.
Other institutions around the
world offer this kind of access
e.g. Finland, U.K. Canada,
Taiwan etc.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008_Taipei_I
T_Month_Day2_Taipei_County_Mobile_Classroom_digit
al_blackboard_and_T5.jpg
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23. INTERNATIONAL E-LEARNING
 E-learning is cropping up in all the world.
 Asia ‘s 7 of largest universities have more that 100,000
students
 Ramakhamheng University (RU) has about 600,000
students many learning online.
 India’s Indira Gandhi National Open University has
1.8million students.
 Demands for blended learning in India is opening new
job opportunities for jobs.
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24. INTERNATIONAL E-LEARNING Cont…
 Noticeable growth is seen in China ;
millions are being connected to the internet
every year - opening more doors for people
to learn
1950 – 1978 correspondence and normal
education
1978 – 1998 radio and TV based education
1999 – to date e-learning
In 2006 there were 1.3 million e-learners;
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25. E- China
 Higher education increased by 40% in 1999 and has
been growing since.
 Higher education increased from 6.3 million students
in 2006 to 17.4 million in 2007 .
 China is developing a knowledge society to improve
productivity; it wants to grow new talent and develop
“World Class universities”(p.133).
 Other countries can take a leaf from China on online
and blended learning.
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26. A BREATH OF NEWNESS
 The OUM is providing a breath of freshness – new
learners , new programmes, new buildings and new
instructors.
 OUM has 3000 tutors spread across the globe
offers a different model of education by offering
opportunities to people who want to learn
 OUM’s enrolment is about 76,000 .
 MORE GROWTH CAN BE EXPECTED.
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27. Free Rice?
 Did know you what a grain of rice can do?
 FreeRice.com explains how you can learn a language
and at the same time feed someone who might not
have food.
 What is better than open the world further?
 FreeRice.com does not only offer entertainment but
education and “a way to change the world” (p134).
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28. Challenges
 Online learning like any other good thing has had its
share of criticisms
 Online courses have been labelled substandard; not
engaging enough – simply boring!
Despite these, online learning seems to be the only way
to go to change the world and touch many lives.
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29. Most of all thank you Professor Bonk for a
mind and heart grabbing book!
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