The Principles of E-Learning
With Wellington College China school having been closed for a number of weeks, Ahmed Hussain, Executive Director for the Institute of Learning, has shared his views and advice on basic principles of e-learning.
• Do not expect to make similar progress to taught lessons in a given period of e-learning. Instead, plan to scaffold small gains in learning. A period of consolidation may be necessary after an extended break but should not be sustained.
• e-learning offers an opportunity to focus on pupil independence as learners. This may include helping pupils to organise their learning and to reflect on what conditions are most conducive for helping them as learners.
• Enable pupils to identify and critique robust sources of reference and to accept that mistakes are an important aspect in the learning process and to work on open-ended activities.
• Ensure that learning is active and that pupils are given the opportunity to collaborate with their peers in small groups and online forums.
• Use and encourage multimedia aspects of e-learning through visuals, video and audio where possible.
• Provide explicit learning objectives and clear success criteria for all activities.
• Ensure that students are clear on the purpose and intended outcomes of the e-learning experience.
• Utilise co-planning and co-teaching to provide a thematic experience where relevant. Liaise with colleagues to link learning across curriculum domains to reinforce the application of knowledge, skills and understanding.
What we then did is exemplify practical application of underpinning factors for effective e-learning.
