Learning in the age of the Internet and information 2.0

E-learning is becoming increasingly important in the educational world.

Our way of communicating has changed. We no longer need to be in front of our friends to have a conversation or to plan the next weekend. Our lifestyles have also changed: we have greater access to information thanks to the Internet, mobile applications are part of our lives and make it easier for us, and we even have more access to information. and make it easier for us, and we don't even read the way we used to (eBooks, iPads, electronic magazines...).

So, if our lifestyle is no longer the same, why do we continue to educate in the same way? Education needs to be transformed to prepare the workers of the future for the information age.

• Related article, "The 13 types of learning: what are they?"

What is B-learning and e-learning?

B-learning is the one in which the student attends scheduled classes, as in classical education, but at the same time, an online platform to develop assignments, homework or even evaluations.. This platform allows you to benefit from a more personal work and choose the time and place to learn.

As we can see, it is a type of blended learning. E-learning is learning in which the learner does not attend face-to-face classes and his learning is entirely on-line..

The learner in e-learning has an active role; first of all, he is the one who manages his time and plans his learning process. Compared to classical education in which students attend class with a specific timetable and a structured program, with days for tests, delivery of assignments and exercises... In e-learning the student can afford to study the subject at the time that suits him/her best and carry out the evaluations and exercises in the same way. At the same time, must learn to self-manage and plan his or her own work..

On the other hand, he must have as a requirement some technical skills to handle the teaching platform and be able to plan and be his own manager in its development. Together with this, their role is totally active within the learning process, as they participate in forums, chats, carry out activities, contribute ideas, etc. In short, in e-learning the student is the protagonist of the learning process.

The role of the teacher has also been modified. In other training programs, the teacher plays the central role: he explains the contents, plans the evaluations and activities to be carried out. In b-learning or e-learning, the teacher takes on the role of facilitator or moderator. In this way, students are empowered to direct their own learning and thus, facilitate them to develop competencies that will be useful in their professional life such as planning, organization, self-learning and resource management.

e-learning 1.0 and e-learning 2.0

The main difference between e-learning 1.0 and e-learning 2.0 is that the latter is equipped with "Social Media" or social networks, which give the learner the opportunity to develop their social skills and complete a social learning through various social networks. social learning through various tools such as wikis, wikis such as wikis, blogs or chats. In e-learning 1.0 the learner was still a passive learner, since he/she did not have social tools.

The interaction that students have with these materials is different from what they had in e-learning 1.0 in which they only had access to limited and non-social material. It is true that in order to be able to participate in this type of e-learning they need to have some knowledge of computers and new technologies. they need to have some knowledge of computers and new technologies. That is why they must also develop these skills, which in turn, will serve them in today's digitized working world.

The Internet gives the opportunity to find more than one source of information or tools on the same subject. Therefore, students of this century must know how to classify, search for information and synthesize it to create their learning. In addition, this transformation in education gives the opportunity to develop the creativity that many times in classical teaching we leave aside and we limit ourselves to require students to reproduce what the teacher has explained.

Isn't it about time we started to educate according to the demands of the working world?

Author: Itxasne Oliva