The United Nations University has released what it calls a ‘sticky concepts‘ video on e-learning.

From the UNU:

If you are a newbie in the field of e-learning and you would like to find out about the idea behind a “learning management system”, the different modes of e-learning, “classroom enrichment” and “blended learning”, this short video will provide you with a short and concise introduction.

You are already an expert in e-learning? If you are working in the field of e-learning yourself and you would like to find out what UNU-ViE has to say about the paradigm shift from a teacher-centered approach to a learner-centered approach or the healthy balance between technology based learning and human interaction,  the video will give you relevant insights from UNU-ViE’s perspective.

Comment

This is a basic introduction to e-learning. I have mixed feelings about the video. It is certainly a worthwhile initiative and might work for African farmers, if they have Internet access, and someone helps them find the video, but I found the Professor Ed approach condescending. It also uses a teacher-centered metaphor to ‘sell’ learner-centered teaching. I think Professor Ed is the wrong metaphor for the message. And there’s nothing about social media.

On the other hand, some may find it useful as way of explaining e-learning to the uninitiated. Let me know what you think of this video.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Hi Tony,

    Great critique in terms of having a teacher-led metaphor to promote a learner-centric approach.

    I will recommend this video to people who are not familiar with elearning.

  2. Hi Tony and Luc,

    Sure you can critique the video as being teacher-led, but that’s the nature of video – which can be incredibly useful for the novice learner but maybe not so much for the student/learner who is more advanced in the subject. In a few moments of reflection, I couldn’t come up with a better way to introduce a subject that was more student-centered.

    Tony – there’s a little bit about social media (referred to as web 2.0 in the video) but it goes by unexplained and could be fleshed out more for the intended audience.

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