E-learning Curve Blog at Edublogs

I guess I’ll start out by explaining where the name is derived from; we’re all familiar with the phrase “learning curve”, though much like e-learning itself, this is much discussion over what the phrase actually means.

Historically, the fundamental concept of the learning curve as a means to measure learning and retention was posited in the 19th Century by Hermann Ebbinghaus; later the term acquired a broader meaning. The learning curve effect tells us that “the more times a task has been performed, the less time will be required on each subsequent iteration.” In a sense, that is one of my ambitions for this blog; the more I use it to describe my ongoing experiences and development as an e-learning practitioner, the better I will become at

1. capturing and implementing the information and
2. interpreting and finding meaning in what I write

So that brings me neatly to the elearning curve. Right here and right now I shall define an elearning curve as “the facility to learn and transfer newly-acquired skills and knowledge through a web-based medium; the emergence of new and the enhancement of current concepts, procedures, and practises in learning, based upon multifarous cognitive events.”

Yes, I know that this is subjective. AND I know that this definition leaves a lot to be desired. But its a work-in-progress and it will change over time. Debate it with me. Engage.

This blog is a mindtool: computer applications that, when used by learners to represent what they know, engages them in critical thinking about the content they are studying (Jonassen, 1996).

Let’s begin!

References: Computers as Mindtools for Engaging learners in Critical Thinking. Techtrends, v43 n2 p24-32