Advantages and Disadvantages of e-learning

This is a discussion used at the SEDA Conference in November 2005

The intention is to present some ideas for and against the use of e-learning by identifying some general principles and then using extracts from the literature to stimulate a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning.

This might be triggered by some short scenarios which present issues for groups of students where e-learning may be a possible solution:

scenario 1: a group of students have a group project to work on which requires them to discuss ideas, reach a concensus and produce a jointly authored document.
scenario 2: a lecturer has a module to teach where some of the students have difficulty in attending all of the sessions.
scenario 3: a staff developer has to advise an academic member of staff how e-learning may be used effectively in a blended learning situation

You are required to suggest a method by which the students may achieve their learning by using a technological and a non technological solution. You should then outline the advantages and disadvantages of each solution and make a judgement as to which solution might be more effective for supporting the students' learning.

[I need to add some feedback and reflection here]

Resources for addressing the issues at the SEDA conference

This will be a series of summaries from research papers that inform the questions that are being asked of the session participants. These will be available in hard copy.

Resource 1 - The seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education [off site] by Arthur W. Chickering and Zelda F. Gamson

Resource 2 - IMPLEMENTING THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES: Technology as Lever [off site] Arthur W. Chickering and Stephen C. Ehrman