-
The World Wide Web
The World Wide Web became mainstreamed with the dial-up modem, and the ramifications in the field of education had yet to be determined. -
E-Learning Models
E-Learning models were adopted by colleges and universities, and were utilized with students who were willing to try a distance education approach to higher education. -
E-Learning Standards and Platforms
*E-Learning gained popularity, resulting in the creation of platforms and standards.
*According to Weller (2018), platforms "could be easily set up to run e-learning programs; a more professional approach to the creation of e-learning" (p. 3).
*Instructional Management Systems (IMS) was the body that determined standards for e-learning, and the Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) became the standard model used in the industry to regulate content used for e-learning. -
Open Educational Resources (OER's)
Open Educational Resources (OER's) was a concept spearheaded by MIT in 2002. Entire coursework and all learning materials were released on the internet, allowed to be used by others (free of charge), as a result of open licensing. -
Learning Management System (LMS)
Learning Management Systems were implemented and continue to stand as the central e-learning technology. Until this time, various sets of tools were used in e-learning settings; LMS was a collection of the most useful tools needed in an e-learning environment. -
Video: YouTube
YouTube revolutionized the ability to create and utilize video, and it made a significant contribution to the field of education. It was an easy medium for instructors to use in the explanation of learning concepts in Distance Education. -
Social Media
In Distance Education, social media changed the way students interacted with academia and instructional institutions. It enabled global connections and interaction between disciplines in education through the medium of meaningful discussion. -
Personal Learning Environments (PLE's)
Both learners and educators had a variety of digital tools at their fingertips - the focus for learning changed from providing one LMS for all students, to supporting learners with their own personalized sets of tools and resources within a Personal Learning Environment. -
MOOC's and Open Textbooks
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC's) and Open Textbooks gave online access of high quality educational material to millions of people. -
References
Weller, M. (2018, July 2.) 20 Years of EdTech. EDUCAUSE Review
53(4). In Wes, Richard (Eds.), Foundations of Learning and
Instructional Design Technology Historical Roots and Current
Trends (1st Ed) (Ch.8). EdTech Books. -
Data Ethics in Distance Education (Present Day)
*Data privacy needs to be prioritized when so many forms of media are at our fingertips, if we are to maintain Distance Education as a major contributor to quality education.
*Educators need to take care that learning analytics do not become the focus of online learning over the actual students who are being taught.
