NM3204 - Week 1

I JUST got this module allocated to me on 19th January so i haven't attended the first lecture or whatsoever. So i'm basically still pretty confused as to what i'm supposed to do weekly and what the expectations are of this module.

However, i'm still going to try my best to pen a reflection towards my understanding of what e-learning is all about based on the readings that i have read so far.

E-learning to me has become a very vital component towards many fields of occupations - be it students, doctors, small companies, etc. It refers to the use of technology to facilitate and conduct various activities electronically or via the internet.

E-learning was never that prevalent in Singapore when i was in primary school. I vaguely remember entering the computer lab once a week to engage in learning via bright and colourful illustrations on the computers. But, that itself, happened very rarely. BUT we are now seeing the rise of e-learning - from primary schools, all the way to unversities.

I'm a believer that e-learning facilitates alot of activities, but it does not REPLACE activities. As much as having e-learning is an important and efficient way to conduct various lectures, nothing still beats the idea of face to face communication.

Things such as webcasts for example, are only useful if they serve as a reference, and not as a complete substitute for real lectures.

On the other hand, this point of view is still debatable as the digital world we are living in now emphasizes on connectivity and interactivity and speed. Traditional means of learning and communication are slightly slower and less efficient.

As such, e-learning is something that i feel we can look forward to in the future.

Speaking of which, i'll probably get a better understanding of e-learning during my first lecture this coming wednesday.