Virrtual Settings: E-Learning as Creating Context

Abstract

Afourfold model of the main contextual factors to be taken into account in learn-ing is presented, with the view to examining how they interrelate and how theyimpinge on learning. We further consider the traditionally central factor of infor-mation (content) to help us see how it should be positioned within the more opencontext of e-learning. It is the advent of e-learning, and technology more generally,that is enabling a shift in the interaction, away from the delivery of information toaccess to information and away from interaction limited to the classroom setting tovarious virtual communities. The point of the shift is to reengage the learner inmore personalized learning that can be more interesting and meaningful. It thusovercomes the receptive learner stance encouraged by the impersonal delivery ofinformation and encourages instead an active interactive stance in which thelearner accesses information as per the current learning needs.