This rises the question...but what about the Digital Divide?
Josef Hvorecky (2004) states that the difficulty with e-learning and the Digital Divide is this:
"One of big expectations tied to e-learning speaks about its ability to introduce equal education to everyone. Authors of this claim assert that the possibility of e-courses to reach any corner of our planet will lead to the opportunity of delivering same high-quality education everywhere. The biggest optimists have a vision of top-ranking universities acting over the Internet using ready-made courses for huge amounts of students in Third-World countries. In accordance to well-known practices of e-learning the students would study on their own pace by self-learning. Despite the author’s conviction that that e-learning has this potential, it is not difficult to express several counterarguments against such overoptimistic conclusions.
1.Language barrier
2.Absence of prerequisites
3.Technology hurdles
4.Difficulties with translation:"
For the full article go to: http://www.eurodl.org/materials/contrib/2004/Hvorecky.htm
References: Hvorensky, J. (2004) Can E-learning break the Digital Divide? [Online]
From: http://www.eurodl.org/materials/contrib/2004/Hvorecky.htm
[Accessed on 11-06-10]
References: Hvorensky, J. (2004) Can E-learning break the Digital Divide? [Online]
From: http://www.eurodl.org/materials/contrib/2004/Hvorecky.htm
[Accessed on 11-06-10]
The digital divide is a serious issue when considering moving towards an all e-Learning environment. Government has made many initiatives to reduce the level of the digital divide and promote life long learning. Many incentives such as subsidised internet prices, rfunds on courses taken up by individuals etc. But I feel that there still is a culture barrier towards all this. If we were to promote e-learning and reduce the digital divide we have to start by changing standard way of teaching as school. there are many teachers at primary level who still resist teaching through different media rather than the standard chalk and talk approach. In malta we carry an illiteracy rate of about 11%, moreover only 63% of us decide to continue higher education, 20% below the EU average. Before these things are properly addressed, we cannot really start discussing e-learning
ReplyDeleteIt is important to note that in the rest of the EU, it is compulsory to attend some form of education until the age of 18, whereas in Malta this is still at 16. As a consequence our percentage of students that continue with higher education is significantly smaller. In other countries, having just basic schooling is not enough to find work, and most students willingly follow either a vocational or academic course for a further 2 years to improve their employability.
ReplyDeleteIt is also true that many of us teachers are still getting to grips with what e-learning is about, and the shift from the traditional teaching approach will take some time. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day :)
I think with the introduction of self-paced learning we have reduced segragation of education. This in the sense that at least people who speak a common language but live in different countries have equal opportunities to learn.
ReplyDeleteAn improvement which may not be yet available in the current self-paced learning may be available in a universal language.
English as an Additional Language
ReplyDeleteI do agree that e learning is an important source of learning and that language could be a barrier. However referring to the Maltese National Minimum Curriculum issued in 1999, we find that English is to be taught as an additional language as from the early years. This will help to raise achievements and standards for all young people whatever their ethnic or cultural background. This will ensure that all education policies truly address the needs of every pupil in every school.
Are we truly promoting addressing this issue in primary classes? I trust that we are, however we definitely need to expose children to the English Language by teachers who are confident to teach in English. If we do not apply this teaching in schools, some children will never be exposed to the language at home since their guardians might be Maltese spoken only.
There have been a number of recent national developments in English as an Additional Language (EAL) in Malta as a result of the Aiming High strategy which includes an extensive EAL programme delivered through the National Strategies, and a specific programme to support children in Kindergarten classes. Reading books in English without translating in Maltese but helping young children to comprehend through puppets, gestures, body language, props, and singing nursery rhymes plays an important part.
Moreover IT and the use of computers in Kindergarten classes especially in the state schools will surely give us very positive results. Consequently this will help students to be confident in studying through an e learning programme in the near future. Let us hope that digital divide will not include Maltese students!!
I think that in Malta we are very well prepared for eLearning. The digital divide will not be much of an issue in the future especially now that students are trained from early years in both English and IT. Moreovers, schools (as well as households) are well equipped with computers and internet connectivity. It is true that teachers need more training in this new field. From what we have discussed so far, we concluded that being able to successfuly provide a course online does not just require the teacher to use a couple of technologies (blogs, wikis) but also involves other skills (e.g., competing with Facebook for students' attention).
ReplyDeleteHowever, while in developed countries the majority of people have access to a computer together with Internet, on the other hand in other developing countries the situation is extremely on an other edge since very few people have access to a computer. Unfortunately, this is the situation and although it is being done as much as possible, still the digital divide is massively present across countries. Some international organisations, as for example CNET Networks International Media and UK charity Computer Aid International, are trying to bridge such a gap but the effort involved is huge and it will surely take quite some time to get all countries on a similar level, since various obstacles exist and will still exist in such a feat.
ReplyDeleteA degree student, Ann-Marie Attard, whose thesis I am supervising has researched the digital divide in Malta. The research was very interesting highlighting certain aspects such as practically every family in Malta with two parents and children have a computer at home. Most importantly is that the digital divide will never cease to exist for various factors. The largest concentration of computer illiterate persons lie in the older generations (elder persons), though many initiatives exist to assist them. Other factors include family traditions where there exist cases that certain skills/job licenses are passed on from parent to child and the use of computers is discouraged. Even though rare the digital divide will always exist.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2QNtdmRSes
ReplyDeleteNaħseb li dal-filmat jixhed kemm it-tagħlim elettroniku, bi ħsieb, jista’ jilħaq il-bżonnijiet anke ti persuni neqsin mis-smigħ. Dan hu riklam għal nies deaf biex isiru membri b’kors online biex jitgħallmu il-lingwa tas-sinjali.