Global E-Learning- The State of E-Learning in the World--Opening Ambitious Conversations

At some point in your professional life you experience what we would call an "Eureka!!" moment. Such moments are rare in our lives and even rarer in our professional lives which too often follow predictable patterns. In reading forum postings in the LinkedIn network, I may have come to such a moment and it occurred to me as a question:

" When it comes to E-Learning, are we missing the forest because of the trees?"

Your first reaction to this question might be "what does that mean?" or simply "I don't get it!" Perhaps that is precisely the problem that "we don't get it!" We spend a great deal of time focused on technology, tools and apps without stopping and stepping back and taking a look to see if there is a greater picture we should be paying attention to.

Many of us who work in different capacities in E-Learning, whether in the areas of higher education, government ministries, instructional design  or corporate training recognize and appreciate contributions made by professionals from many countries around the world in E-Learning. We are able to sample the opinions and expertise of these professionals through social media such as Twitter, Facebook and the LinkedIn forums in areas of E-Learning. However, there is a daunting question we need to ask which is:

"Do we have a complete picture of the state of E-Learning in the various countries of the world or do we merely have a mosaic with pieces missing?

Credit: E-Learning Industry

 In order for E-Learning to truly evolve to what it can be within a global context, we need a complete picture of the state of E-learning in the world of the 21st century.

Why Is This Necessary?

If one of our goals in educating and training learners is to empower them to be creators of new knowledge and skillsets, to be innovators for improving the quality of life of global citizens, we need to know the challenges that each of us face in education, technology and innovation.

Learners are to become skilled problem solvers who will have to confront complex real world issues. Our focus in equipping them with the necessary skillsets is the realization that:

"Many of the problems faced in the connected world of today are no longer just localized distant problems. With the advance of technology and instantaneous communication to the far reaches of the globe, the problems are more global in nature with the ability to impact everyone who shares the planet."

A Proposal That Needs to Go Viral!

In this blog (www.darkzoneeducation.blogspot.com) for the next few postings I would like to send out an appeal to different regions of the world for their input on the state of E-Learning in their area. The purpose of this appeal is to open conversations that will allow all of us to truly understand the "mosaic of global E-Learning". I would like to entertain these conversations in the professional forums on E-Learning in LinkedIn.com. The conversations should elaborate on three main questions:

1. What is the state of E-Learning in the education sector of your country?
2. What are a few successes you can highlight that you have experienced in E-Learning in your country?
3. What are a few serious challenges that you see now and in the future for E-Learning in your country?

Who Should We Hear From?

 Naturally, we would like to hear from all those who are involved in E-Learning in some way. Government officials, higher education, instructional designers, educators, corporate trainers and even students taking E-Learning.

Framing Your Responses

In order that conversations not be cumbersome, I would suggest the following:

1. Identify the country you are from
2. Identify your professional role
3. A brief response to the questions

The questions are conversation starters so that we can get a good understanding of the state of E-Learning in a particular region.

 

Where Do We Start? 

 

These posts will be shared to the LinkedIn forums on E-Learning and innovation, specifically E-Learning Industry and Learnnovators where I hope that we can stimulate some helpful conversations on the state of E-Learning in a global context. I will choose a different region of countries each week but that does not mean that previous conversations need to cease.

 

 

Credit: www.nkfu.com

 

Credit: www.europeandestinations.com

This Week--- European countries and Russian Federation---You are up this week! Talk to us!!

If you are reading this post, share it through social media so that we can get as many people involved in these conversations as possible. The mosaic is incomplete until you contribute and collaborate.