Identity, variety and destiny in productive e-learning with specific reference to desired learning outcomes

Abstract

What does one do when a net generation of computer literate and computer sophisticated students arrive at the gates of institutions? What is the commensurate ability of faculty? This paper considers the revolutionary socio-cultural transformations created by e-learning in the manner knowledge is generated, organized, retrieved, managed and purveyed across the boundaries of different cultures. Proposals have been forthcoming to reform teaching and learning and make it compatible with the new competitive telecommunications environment. The architecture, diversity and apparent contradictions between these proposals render the public policy dialog scattered and confused. Within this context this paper considers the identity, variety and destiny in productive e-learning with specific reference to desired learning outcomes and introduces the idea of a 'virtual space' delineated by two dimensions---'learning experience, namely, face to face intervention' and 'geographical space. These lay out the contours of the emerging intellectual landscape by placing past practices as well as present proposals on the same conceptual plane. The current approach to universal education continues to be bound by the self-imposed limitations of past regulations and that a heterogeneous universal educational policy is likely to be more suited to the new e-learning environment. Undoubtedly, effective learning through e-learning has become an issue of major discussions. As a result a set of vocabulary associated with lifelong learning is being developed to accommodate learning outcomes associated with e-learning. Having identified issues surrounding productive e-learning, desired learning outcomes are then presented. The two questions bearing on educational institutions are: how will these changes affect the institutions' academic mission and conduct? And secondly, how would institutions react to these changes? Finally, student motivation in terms of hierarchy of needs is considered in the light learning outcomes.