Posted 6:21 PM by George Siemens
What is needed for learning to occur? I can think of five critical points:

• Need for learning. The learning must be useful in real life (or provide a sense of self-worth/value - eg. learning to paint).
  
• Accessibility of learning. Can the learning be accessed from anywhere?...anytime?
  
• Engagement. Learners need to be engaged in order to learn.
  
• Time on task. "Deep learning" happens when learners grapple with and reflect on the content...this takes time
  
• Format of learning materials. Content alone does not equate with learning - it needs structure, organization, and a guided path.
  

Have I missed anything? From my perspective these are five of the most critical components to learning. How does an instructor "create" learning? Interaction, combined with online learning, is the key to unlocking (sorry, I had to use a cheesy analogy...too early in the week to be creative!) these five characteristics of learning...assuming that the learner has a need or value to learn.

Interaction occurs in four dimensions.

1. Learner with learner
   
2. Learner with content
   
3. Learner with instructor/facilitator
   
4. Learner with interface
   

Technology is an interface that allows learning to occur through the use of a variety of tools. CHAT, discussion, whiteboard, self-quizzes, file sharing, listservs, Flash, Authorware, etc., are all tools that an instructor can use in a distributed learning environment to improve the quality of INTERACTION...which leads to ENGAGEMENT...which leads to LEARNING.

Quick Links:
Internet Growth
Quote: "Global Internet traffic will double annually during the next five years, says the report, and by 2006, broadband-access connections will account for more than half the overall number of Internet connections."

Comment: The big question with online learning is not "does it have a future", but "what will it look like in the future." Reports like this illustrate the HUGE progress of the Internet (in particular broadband-access...think video...think highly engaging learning...think true collaboration).

Multiple Locations
Quote: "About half of the users now access the Internet from more than one location. Despite the implications of this for service design, many systems assume that users remain bound to a single computer."

Comment: Makes sense...I have files on two computers. Sucks if I realize in the middle of the day that the files I need are at home. Concern: Is it inappropriate use of corporate equipment (i.e. laptops) if it is loaded with personal files?