E-Learning Theory – 1

ILT or Information Learning Technology (to give it its Sunday name) is one of many
terms used to describe the use of technology in the teaching and learning process.
Another, and perhaps more powerful term is e-Learning (the ‘e’ being ‘electronic’ – but it
could mean other things too: like ‘engaging’, ‘empowering’ etc). They mean roughly the
same thing – basically, that some kind of technology is used or applied during the learning
process. It does not mean that students are learning to use the technology itself (as they
might in an IT or ICT 1class).

Much of what is deemed good practice in e-Learning can be traced back to good
classroom practice anyway – all we are being asked to do is use these
new tools to assist our learners to learn! What’s more, as the demand for
a more personal approach to learning grows, the tools are becoming
better able to help us provide that personalised learning.

“Technology is getting really personal. We have gone from personal

computers to personal stereos, mobiles and digital jewellery in a very short
time indeed. Technology is now truly personal and pervasive with concepts
like wearable and even paintable computing. “
[http://www.epic.co.uk/content/resources/white_papers/personalisation.htm]
Downloaded 27/07/042

Q - How often do you give students a handout?

Regularly?

Q - Why do you give them the handout?

Is it because you want to explain something in more detail or is it to save them making
notes – and they do need something to revise from don’t they?

Either way, the handout is a regular means of supporting student learning – isn’t it? Why
not save yourself the bother, some students lose the handout within minutes of leaving the
classroom; others file it away neatly never to read it again – don’t they?? I’m being
deliberately contentious of course – many students learn quite well from handouts but you
could help them even more by placing the handouts onto the college Intranet or Virtual
Learning Environment (VLE).

Doing this would enable the students to access the handouts whenever they liked and to
read them online. Some may prefer this – some may not, but at least they now have the
choice. By putting the handout online, you now have the chance to support student
learning EVEN MORE! By using basic techniques such as FORMS or COMMENT boxes
you can add help and information3 which would be very difficult to do on the paper version
(as you can see).

By using Forms, you can even set them small but hugely helpful formative tests which help
them to draw knowledge out of the handout. Can’t you? ..click here..

Learning styles
1
IT is Information Technology and ICT is Information Communication Technology (the same thing with the
addition of Internet capabilities such as e-mail and the World Wide Web – www)
2
This ‘white paper’ by the Epic group is well worth a read to further your understanding of what the future
holds – see online or this link to reading area of Advanced level
3
This is a comment – you will be able to read it in the ‘online’ version

David Sugden – July 2004 –[revised February 2007]

E-Learning Theory – 1

Much is made of learning styles in today’s education system.

Quite rightly too – we should understand how our learners
learn and how we might approach those styles.

But this is all PGCE and Cert in Ed. Stuff – all of which we have
looked at before??? Haven’t we??

But how do you address individual learning styles when you’ve

got a class of 24+ inattentive youngsters? Well . . . read on ...

Learning styles are hard to define the Epic Group PLC, in their white paper on
personalised learning suggested that there were “71 competing theories” e.g.
[http://www.epic.co.uk/content/resources/white_papers/personalisation.htm]

• Activists v theorists
• Activists v reflectors Do you recognise any of these?
• Adaptors v innovators
• Assimilators v accommodators I certainly remember the Honey and Mumford
• Common sense v dynamic learners ones:
• Concrete v abstract learners Theorist v Reflector v Activist v Pragmatist and
• Convergers v divergers can quite easily slot myself and some of my
• Deep learning v surface learning students into one of those groups.
• Executive v legislative
In fact I often talk about kinaesthetic learners
• Hierarchical v Anarchic – but there’s no sign of them in the list – which
• Conservative v liberal the researchers admit is not exhaustive.
• Extroverts v introverts
• Field dependent v field independent But my own learning style changes from day
• Globalists v analysts to day and depends entirely on what I am
• Holists v serialists learning – does that apply to my students too?
And if so how do I deal with that?
• Imaginative v analytical
• Initiators v reasoners AND – if there are so many different learning
• Intuitionists v analysts styles – how do I cope with the 24 rowdies?
• Judging v perceiving
• Left brain v right brain
• Inductives v deductives
• Successive processors v simultaneous processors
• Meaning-directed v undirected
• Non-committers v plungers
• Organisers v innovators KEEP THEM OCCUPIED!
• Pragmatists v reflectors
And with a little thought and planning ILT and
• Pragmatists v theorists
e-learning can help you to do just that.
• Random v sequential
• Sensing v intuition • Active learners are not rowdy
• Theorists v humanitarians • Interested learners do not disrupt
• Thinking v feeling • Engaged learners – are engaged!
• Verbalisers v imagers

David Sugden – July 2004 –[revised February 2007]

E-Learning Theory – 1

So basically, the theory of ILT (e-learning) involves understanding our need to address a
variety of learning styles and enabling learners to become more ‘involved’. Future theory
will go a little deeper but will have the same ‘core’. Good luck.

David Sugden – July 2004 –[revised February 2007]