Education
‘Education over the Internet’ is still in its infancy and there may have been many false starts. Because of its relative newness these false starts have been based on unreliable assumptions and prepositions. These have included the assumption that traditional classrooms can simply be uprooted and transplanted on top of this technology. Others have assumed that teachers roles will not change, the learning dynamics will remain the same when the new technology is introduced.
The first generation of eLearning or Web based learning programs focused on presenting physical classroom-based instructional content over the Internet and were simply a repetition of classroom based courses. In many cases all that had changed was the ‘access’.
There were many classroom courses which simply became ‘courses behind glass’. There was page after page of content and point and click quizzes. The educational value of such courses was negligible. They could be described as ‘Shovelware’ – content was simply shovelled from one medium to another, the book to the computer.
If the learner simply printed the materials out the learning experience would be the same, so no educational value was gained. There was little ‘blend’. The learning experience had made no quantum leap.
In the next generation of eLearning materials and courses designers moved towards a ‘bend’, a blend between online and offline learning experiences. This was an improvement but it was still missing some important ingredients.
Synergy Learning has taken this second generation approach and significantly enhanced the learning experience. Synergy has developed online learning materials based on sound educational learning theory. These materials cater for the different learning approaches of different learners enabling the individuals to choose a particular model that suits them best.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is a variety of preferences as to what alternative is used within the learning environments where our materials are used. It also suggests that the preferences can be changed by individual learners between different units.
With these third generation materials Synergy has developed a particular methodology which involves a rich blend of activities, resources and technologies. This pedagogy involves,
- Online learning materials
- Online activities
- Face to Face
- Instructor led activities,
- Formal and informal learning activities
- Self paced learning activities
- Student centred activities
- Synchronous and asynchronous tutoring
- Masterclasses
