WHAT IS PERVASIVE ELEARNING?
Ha! Wikipedia doesn't even have the phrase yet. Nor does the eLearning Guru's glossary of eLearning! So let me try my own definition & description:
It's all about mobility, wireless, etc.; basically, it's eLearning Unplugged.
The concept is a grouping of aspects of eLearning that go beyond "online" to a 'next generation' paradigm that makes use, specifically, of the most mobile aspects of technology. It also involves, of course, a somewhat different media perspective (and skill set) than PC based eLearning has been using. Of course, it also involves the necessary rethinking of teaching/learning methods -- yet another learning curve for educators: How do you make coursework available to (and/or created specifically FOR) handhelds, mini PCs, smart phones, etc?
According to the IEEE (hosts of the PerEL 2006: the 2nd International Workshop on Pervasive eLearning in March 2006), aspects of Pervasive eLearning include:
Pervasive eLearning is to be seen as a key technology for tomorrow's e-knowledge society. Here, content, context and community as well as a technical basement are equally important aspects for the realization of a global campus.
- mobile communication (asynchronous, synchronous),
- service and session mobility as well as device independency,
- techniques for cooperative learning or working,
- document, knowledge, and service management,
- realization of pervasive eLearning scenarios,
- best practice studies and experiences,
- mark-up languages and frameworks for eLearning,
- tools and architectures for mobile/ubiquitous eLearning,
- smart devices and device-independent presentation,
- security and integrity in wireless environments,
- eLearning networks,
- models of pervasive eLearning (e.g. cooperative learning, structured blended learning).
PerEL 2006 will discuss new techniques for the support of mobile teaching, learning and working from a pervasive point of view."
2 comments:
That's very interesting. I've always thought pervasive has a negative connotation. Here's a definition from an Oxford dictionary.
pervasive |pərˈvāsiv| adjective (esp. of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people : ageism is pervasive and entrenched in our society.
I didn't think of that. Interesting. So, it's not only about re-defining eLearning, it's about re-defining 'pervasive'. LOL
GuruNet defines PERVASIVE as: "Having the quality or tendency to pervade or permeate", and defines PERVADE as "To be present throughout; permeate". They don't mention the negative aspect. Their only synonym for "pervade" is "charge" -- "to load to capacity, to saturate".
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