E-LearningHistory and Theory

Stamma – MAEng1896

E-Learning was an accident?Futurologist vision:

1920• Pressey’s testing machine• Programmed Instruction• Inspired by Thorndike

1958 • Skinner box• Behavioral objectives• Drill and Practices

Cont …

1964• McLuhan: the medium is the

message• Impact of electronic media:

“personal services of a tutor as well informed as Aristotle”

1970• Tofler: future shock• Future school: at home, with vast

libraries of data available via computerized information systems

Cont …

1979• Christopher Evans: the future ease

and freedom of the e-communication

• School-based to computer-based education at home

1983• Stonier: information and education

must be harnessed together• Echoed home-based education –

global library archives

How did we get where we are today?

1960’s• 1st computer in

school• NCET

1970’s• PARC• 1st Microcomputer

ALTAIR

1980-90’s• Computer at

schools• MEP• HCI

THE INTERNET• Internet started in 1969

(ARPANET)• 1990: URL, HTML & HTTP• 1997: WWW

E-LEARNING THEORYCommunal Constructivism

e-Learning• ICT is only an add-on and tools for

education?• Learning with, not about ICT.• Motivating and facilitating broader

learning experiences• e-Learning concepts emerges

from: education, computer science and psychology

BehaviorismPavlov’s dogSkinner’s boxThorndike’s catWatson

Behaviorism in e-Learning

• Certain stimuli will produce specific reactions

• Drill and Practices, and tutorials• Learner fails, put in the tutorial pace

again, repeating task or extension.• Leaner succeed, rewarded by

congratulatory feedback, progress to the next stage.

Cognitivism

• Piaget

Cognitivism

Cognitivism• Vigotsky

Zone of Proximal Development

Cognitivism in e-Learning

• DIY Tutorials• Problem Solving games• Webquest

Socio-Constructivism

Knowledge

Environment(tutor, learners)Learners

Socio-Constructivism• Social• Reflective• Authentic• Scaffolded• Progressive• Experiental

Communal Constructivism

River Pipe

e-Learning Theory:From Behaviorism to Comm. Constructivism

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