e-Learning Ecologies MOOC’s Updates

Ubiquitous Learning: where the atmosphere (also) matters

As computing has become ubiquitous so has learning. The perspective of computing (and technology) as a service, assumes a practical approach in most diverse areas such as health, agriculture, and mainly education.

Ubiquitous learning (u-learning) represents a paradigm that has emerged, so users can experience and accomplish meaningful learning (Cárdenas-Robledo and Peña-Ayala, 2018), transcending the old pedagogical separations of space and time (Cope and Kalantzis, 2017).

Tools such as Google Classroom, Moodle, and Edmondo to name a few are strongly used as virtual classrooms to foster the situation of ubiquitous learning. Advantages including permanency, accessibility, immediacy, interactivity, the situation of instructional activities, and adaptability endorse the adoption of u-learning (Ma and Yu, 2019). However, socioeconomic and even family structure might affect the outcomes proposed by this learning approach.

As teachers need to reinvent teaching methodologies, parents assume an important role in this process as well. From surveillance kids' commitment to the proposed tasks and activities to providing an adequate environment for the learning, parents also face responsibilities in this entire context. It becomes even more urgent in times like these, where COVID-19 has forced the whole learning-teaching-family structure to be reorganized.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/covid-19-online-learning-home-1.5528953

On the other hand, socioeconomic conditions develop a huge impact too. At low-income homes, the lack of appropriate infrastructure required to access tasks and assignments lead to inequality among students' progress. Nevertheless, although fortunate families may dispose of equipment for an appropriate leaning, a healthy environment is not only about material, but also interpersonal relationships.

“Modern Learning: The Legs of the Table” (CC BY 2.0) by Wesley Fryer

The potential u-learning delivers is undeniable. Notwithstanding, at this point, developing economies and especially the least developed countries fight against a big amount of issues, where the most sophisticated solutions depend on education. As a teacher, I get even more enthusiastic when reading about the possibilities u-learning offers, but also feel motivated on how this entire ecosystem can reach and be adapted to the most students' family-and-social different ecosystems.

References:

Cárdenas-Robledo, L. and Peña-Ayala, A., 2018. Ubiquitous learning: A systematic review. Telematics and Informatics, 35(5), pp.1097-1132.

Cope, B., and Kalantzis, M. (2017). Conceptualizing e-learning. In B. Cope and M. Kalantzis (Eds), e-Learning Ecologies. New York: Routledge.

Ma, L.F.H., & Yu, L.L. (2019). Ubiquitous Learning for Distance Education Students: The Experience of Conducting Real-Time Online Library Instruction Programs through Mobile Technology. International Journal of Librarianship, 4(1), 93-102.

  • Eleni Tsaireli
  • Humberto Cunha
  • Rebecca Latour
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  • Victor Lucas Cavalcante
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  • Marcela Rondoni
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