Technology-Enhanced Learning

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

• learning 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).
• learning 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.

About the definition

The existing definitions for technology enhanced learning spread very broad and change continuously due to the dynamic nature of this evolving research field(see example links below.) Hence, the definition of TEL must be as broad and general as possible in order to capture all aspects:

Technology enhanced learning (TEL) has the goal of providing socio-technical innovations (also improving efficiency and cost effectiveness) for learning practices, regarding individuals and organizations, independent of time, place and pace. The field of TEL therefore describes the support of any learning activity through technology.

TEL in Europe

The EU supports a number of projects in the area of TEL.

There are several Networks of Excellences that (have) specifically contribute(d) to shaping the research area around TEL:

• PROLEARN: ended
• Kaleidoscope: ended
• STELLAR: running

TEL in the United Kingdom

The Teaching and Learning Research Programme is currently in its Technology Enhanced Learning phase. It is currently funding eight large projects in the TEL field across the UK.

Associations dealing with TEL

• European Association on Technology Enhanced Learning (EATEL)
• CEN Learning Technologies Workshop (CEN WSLT)
• IEEE Technical Committee on Learning Technology (LTTC)
• IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC)
• Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)
• Ariadne foundation
• The International Federation for Learning, Education, and Training Systems Interoperability (LETSI)
• ELearning Industry Group (ELIG)
• Eden
• European Schoolnet

External links

• TeLearn - European research on technology-enhanced learning
• TEL Blog
• Helge Scherlund's eLearning news blog
• At technorati
• At del.icio.us
• TELeurope.eu
• The Technology Enhanced Learning Research Programme website
• 7 Essential Learning Tools A Focalworks article