E-learning is used a lot in Africa to educate students. It breaks down the boundaries in Africa’s education system, which isn't the most efficient. With this system, people in rural areas are still able to learn. This emphasises the idea of techno-determinism and the way that technology has advanced in order to shape people’s needs. In this case, the women and children needed a way of learning and so E-learning was created in order to fulfill this need.
Although E-learning helps a lot of people, questions about the quality of the education that the students are receiving could be asked. The internet throughout this course means the produser is able to build on the subjects as they wish. The idea of E- learning criticises this because the mass media are just being sent messages to do with education and are expected to learn them in order to pass a qualification. There is then the problem of whether the user questions the information or just learns it as it is written.
Another issue with E-learning is what if someone doesn't understand. How much help is available to them?
Despite these criticisms E-Learning for a country like Africa is allowing some people to have a quality learning which may not have been possible before. People in rural areas are now able to connect to the internet and learn, whereas before they had been over looked by the education system. I personally think that even though there are some criticisms and limitations of the system, it is still educating people who previously didn't have access to a decent education, making E-learning a successful scheme.
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Hi Lucy
ReplyDeleteWhen we talk about techno-determism, it's about the technology shaping what people do, and socio-determinism is about people shaping the technology to suit the way their society works. So..this appears to be techno-oriented since the education would not be there without the technology. But isn't there an equal argument to be made that education was wanted and seen as desireable so the technology was deployed to provide it? And why am I asking the question?!
I think in many countries, for example in Australia, which was discussed in the lecture, the technology is vital in order to educate the majority of citizens. This is also relevant to Africa, where it may be difficult for people in rural areas to be educate. This, in my opinion, is techno-orientated. In the UK however, the technology doesn't benefit those in rural areas as the majority have access to schools and education. Instead it benefits those with busy lives, or low income. I think this means the technology was deployed to provide it, and therefore socio-orientated. Do you agree with this? Am I on the right lines?
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