2006:End of traditional e-learning

Quite a bold statement.I am assuming that e-learning stands for electronic (not enhanced) learning through Internet, school network,CD-ROM, interactive conferences, or satellite broadcast.I strongly feel this model is not going to work in future.

People are already talking about e-learning 2.0.What exactly is e-learning 2.0 ?I really like the "c-learning" notation. First of all,I want to convey that e-learning 2.0 or whatever you want to call it...The base technologies will remain same.Internet will be there(or better bandwidth and reach...From India's perspective),CD-ROM will be there (may be DVDs or blu-Ray) or VSATs..or VOIPs.

But there is a big paradigm shift happening in education.Its "C" effect...

C means connectivity

C means community

C means collaboration

Curriculum frameworks for class 6 will not be developed by teachers or education societies but the kids themselves .If it sounds ridiculous,dont worry....let me explain

Ideas or issues or syllabus can bubble up from the bottom, instead of flowing down from the top.The power of masses.The long tail.And the medium will be the same - all base technologies which we were using in first generation e-learning.With all these ingredients,learners will shape their own learning process.

A bunch of kids were taken to some historical monument say Taj Mahal.Now few kids might be interested in who created this monument,others may question how or why this man wasted his time instead of doing something more useful.Some kids may question the cost of the monument....etc etc.So interests are different and if history teacher asks me to write on historical significance of the monument which I may not be interested at all.But as my curriculum framework says that its very important to have a holistic view of things around me ...I will study it.

Damn,I will come home search for the cost of taj mahal..credit cards or cash.. ..and put it in my biary(blog diary) ....and my other classmates who are interested in money ..writes something ...and our automatically generated combined report may be a big surprise for my history teacher.She will ask the headmaster to include "history of money" or "money awareness" in their local curriculum.The headmaster,then principal,then your k-12 board and the power.....

It seems like a distant dream........or utter stupidity......but Teacher's basic role will be of a chief collaborator who is making connections for students to other groups of students or experts/resources across geographies.Schools have to open up.Make your entire projects,assignments and tests global if you really want to sustain and more significantly lead in 21st century.

Make learning fun...........................
Make learning open.......................
Make global connections with other schools.....
Assess your curriculum frameworks.........
Start experimenting with blogs,wikis,podcasts.....whether you are in Ajmer or Paris
Create content with students .....dont just make them consumers

There are so many things to do.

Indian schools,wake up....these things dont cost bomb ..like your school ERP....

Just open your eyes.Education is changing at speed of light and traditional elearning is dead.

Kapil Bhatia
kapil1312@yahoo.co.in

The views expressed here are those of the author and do not reflect views of any other organization or commission.