A New eLearning Approach

In traditional directed-teaching methods, the lecturer controls the learning environment, the books, and other resources to be used as well as the way in which students should learn. This ‘didactic instruction’ paradigm is still dominant in education (Soloway et al., 1996).

However, this method does not always have the expected results, mainly because students ‘often seek the most expedient and least demanding approaches to learning that enable them to pursue their social objectives more thoroughly’ (Jonassen & Land, 2000).

Soloway (1996) advocates a learner-centered approach. ‘The central claim of learner-centered design is that software can embody learning supports – scaffolding – that can address the learner’s growth, diversity and motivation’ Soloway(1996). Existing and new technology enables a learner-centered approach, and can take this even further than in the traditional classroom setting.