ERIC Number: EJ1088934
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2156-8235
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
E-Learning--The McDonaldization of Education
Carroll, Noel
European Journal of Higher Education, v3 n4 p342-356 2013
E-learning has become one of the biggest phenomena of educational literature in recent years. Although the potential promise of e-learning is often expected within the process of learning, much of the emphasis is in fact on the electronic issues to facilitate learning, with little regard for its consequences on the learning process. Surprising, very few studies explore students' requests for such technologies, which begs the question--what problem is e-learning trying to address and whose problem is it? This article argues that although we continue to develop sophisticated gadgetry to "enhance" learning, technology can in fact distract the learner by allowing technology to become more intrusive in the educational experience. Consequently, this often erodes the human factor in learning--making the learning process a more isolated experience. This article suggests that academics should become more cautions with their acceptance of facilitating learning through e-learning platforms without fully understanding the impact on students' learning experiences. The article offers a critical reflection on an extensive study carried out on students' (total: 475) experience with e-learning at third level education. This article reflects on the findings and raises concerns regarding the contrast in what e-learning literature promises and what students actually experience.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Electronic Learning, Commercialization, Educational Technology, Technological Advancement, Learning Processes, Influence of Technology, Learning Experience, Conventional Instruction, Marketing, Student Role, Outcomes of Education, Cooperative Learning, Educational Improvement, Evidence, Higher Education, Asynchronous Communication, Synchronous Communication
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A