My E-Learning journey

My journey into the Managing E-Learning course has felt a little like the image in my profile, as I feel I am in an foreign place, heading down a road into the misty unknown.  Fortunately the mist is clearing as I study each topic area, opening links and undertaking actiities which have led to a deeper appreciation and understanding of e-learning.  Being a "digital immigrant" (Prensky, 2001), I have not grown up with information and communication technologies (ICTs) but have been fortunate enough to witness their arrival, many changes and rapid expansion.

Unfortunately, I have not kept pace with the rapid changes in ICTs.  The Managing E-Learning course has made me very aware of the wonderful educational websites and collaborative tools I have been missing, such as blogs and wikis, that teachers and students can use to promote communication and enhance lesson experiences.  I am very excited by the prospect of integrating ICTs and Web 2 technology into all subject areas of my teaching, as I definitely believe this technology is the key to effective learning and connecting, collaborating and motivating learners of the 21st century.  Employing Learning Engagement Theory in the classroom illustrates ways that teachers can also achieve these objectives, together with providing students with learning that is "creative, meaningful, and authentic" (Kearsley, & Shneiderman, 1999).

I believe we are all entering into an exciting and transformative time for learning, "so let's embrace it and focus on the amazing opportunities we now have to develop learners for the future" (Jones, 2009).
 
References
Prensky, M. (2001).  Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants.  In On the Horizon (vol. 9).  Retrieved from CQUniversity e-courses, FAHE11001 Managing E-Learning, http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

Kearsley, G., & Schneiderman, B. (1999).  Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved from CQUniversity e-courses, FAHE11001 Managing E-Learning, http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Jones, D. (2009).  What's the point?  Retrieved from Education Queensland, The Learning Place, http://eq2.janison.com/eq/viewarticle.asp?guid={B7663F54-AFBA-4018-B78F-4D9480480D18}