Reviewing the trajectories of e-learning

By Gráinne Conole. Digital technologies have moved from being a peripheral innovation to being part of the core services we offer learners. Today’s learners have grown up in a world of computers and the Internet and see such technologies as a key part of their learning toolset (Sharpe and Beetham 2010). Digital technologies enable learners to engage with rich multimedia, and social and participatory media enable learners to communicate and collaborate in a variety of different ways. Smart phones and tablets mean that mobile learning, anywhere, anytime is now a reality. Virtual worlds and gamification facilitate authentic learning and role play (Wills, Leight et al. 2010; Childs and Peachey 2011; Childs and Peachey 2013). This chapter will provide an overview of the key technological developments over the past thirty years and will critique their impact on formal and informal learning. It will conclude with a projection of future scenarios for education and emergent technological trends. More...