E - Learning Lesson 2

We had our second E- Learning class last week. In this class we learned more about the theory of electronic learning. This included some of the concepts of e-learning including synchronous, asynchronous and simulations. We also looked at some of the tools which can be used including Powerpoint, Knowledge Presenter and podcasts.

The topic of Midi files came up in last week's class. This is when I realised that I had actually been using an e-learning system for the past few years to learn songs on a piano. Midi (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files of most popular songs can be downloaded for free from sites such as:

http://www.mididb.com/

These files are very small in size (usually less than 100kb) but contain all the musical information of a song. When opened in a sequencer program such as Cubase one can see and hear all the scoring information for all the individual instruments in the songs composition. When you then connect your computer to a midi enabled keyboard, it greatly helps the learning experience. Not only can you see and hear the correct notes to be played but you can also play along with any combination of the other instruments in the song such as bass, strings and percussion.

E - Learning

We had our first E-Learning class last Wednesday which I found very interesting. I learned about the fundamental aspects of what e-learning is:

"The delivery of a learning, training or education program by electronic means.
Distance education provided the base for e-learning's development. E-learning
can be "on demand". It overcomes timing, attendance and travel difficulties."

I also learned of some of the ways e-learning can be implemented :

via cd-rom, internet, mobile devices such as PDA'S, audio, podcasts, mp3, blogs, tv etc.

We then began to design a real life example of an e-learning system. Our project is Coffee Time - Creative Coffee: An e-learning module to aid Baristas from the novice to the advanced.