Technology enhanced learning (or TEL) refers to the support of any learning activity through technology.
TEL is often used synonymously with E-Learning even though there are significant differences. The main difference between the two expressions is that TEL focuses on the technological support of any pedagogical approach that utilizes technology. However this is rarely presented as including print technology or the developments around libraries, books and journals in the centuries before computers.
A learning activity can be described in terms of the
- resources: creation, distribution, access, compilation, consumption of digital content; tools and services
- actions: communication, collaboration, interaction with software tools
- context: time, duration, surrounding people and location
- roles: A learning activity is carried out by various actors in changing roles (e.g. student, teacher, facilitator, learning coach, human resource or education manager).
- objective: to support every human in achieving her or his learning goals, respecting individual as well as organizational learning preferences
Learning activities can follow different pedagogical approaches and didactic concepts.The main focus in TEL is on the interplay between these activities and respective technologies. This can range from enabling access to and authoring of a learning resource to elaborate software systems managing (e.g. learning management system, learning content management systems, learning repositories, adaptive learning hypermedia systems, etc.) and managing (human resource management systems; tools for self-directed learning, etc.) the learning process of learners with technical means.
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