A number of us have commented upon the lack of precision and common understanding of terms we regularly use when discssuing e-learning research.
I am thus creating this thread and welcome discussion on any terms that are defying common understanding
I'll begin with e-learning which was mentioned by a number of posters as ill defined.
A Google define: e-learning search yields 15 definitions. I'll highlight those I find of interest.
The New Zealand government defines e-learning as "Learning that is facilitated by the use of digital tools and content. Typically, it involves some form of interactivity, which may include online interaction between the learner and their teacher or peers." This definition stress the interactivity and seem to imply formal education contexts.
Oxford University adds the infrastructure for supporting elearning as"Services which are delivered, enabled or mediated by ICT for the purposes of delivering education, and the technology and services which help create, manage and deliver those activities.
Imperical College finally notes the difference between learning and education in their definition "E-Learning is the learning process created by interaction with digitally delivered content, services and support."
And finally E-Career Management defines E-learning as" an approach to facilitate and enhance learning through the use of devices based on both computer and communications technology"
I also liked The Mountainquest's definition as" any virtual act or process used to acquire data, information, skills or knowledge. In the context of our research, eLearning is enabled learning, learning in a virtual world where technology merges with human creativity to accelerate and leverage the rapid development and application of deep knowledge' Except this seems to preclude using e-learning in blended contexts that are not 'virtual'
Would anyone care to craft a definition of e-learning that we might all agree on for this conference?