Potencijali e-ucenja za unapredjenje modela poucavanja odraslih

Abstract

This paper offers a concise analysis of the development of e-education and distance education. E-education is considered to be the basis of e-learning, which consequently becomes one of the models for teaching adults. Given the fact that in the last couple of years the phenomen of e-learning has become a multidisciplinary research subject in different scientific fields (social sciences, natural sciences and humanities), in the first part of the paper the readers are provided with the fundamental knowledge of the problem-related terminology, and an overview of the historical development is offered as well (from distance education to e-education). The second part deals with the main topic of this paper - the model of e-education and e-teaching for adults. The first part of the paper also contains theoretical findings based on the relevant literature on distance (correspondence) learning as a fore-runner of e-learning. It also elaborates on the historical development of distance learning, the importance of the programmed teaching designated by the behaviourists, and later the so-called teaching machines (e.g. Pressey's machine), definitions of the concepts of distance learning and teaching, as well as the definitions of e-learning and e-education related to the hybrid model of learning (which implies motivation, mental awareness and users' experience). The advantages and disadvantages of specific e-learning and teaching tools are also considered (video conferencing, Skype, etc.). The last section of the paper provides the authors' considerations regarding the potential of e-learning for distance learning and teaching of adults based on teaching and learning theory (behaviourism, cognitivism, constructionism). This section also deals with the Knowles' four principles of adult learning, the continuum as a concept in e-learning, didactic triangle in online environment, Gagne's nine events of instruction, and the characteristics of adult learners in the third stage of life in the new (multi)media environment, as well as the obstacles for educators.