Evaluating the Flexibility of Learning Processes in E-Learning Environments

Abstract

Flexible learning has many definitions, but it is typically used to describe the empowerment of the learner to choose when, how, and where to engage in learning in order to address their individual study needs. Collis and Moonen (2001) define a flexible learning approach as: …a movement away from a situation in which key decisions about learning dimensions are made in advance by the instructor or institution, towards a situation where the learner has a range of options from which to choose with respect to these key dimensions. (p. 16) A number of these key dimensions closely reflect the flexibility of the learning processes that students undertake, including the time and location of learning, the instructional approaches adopted, the variety of learning materials, and the course delivery model (Nikolova & Collis, 1998).