E-Learning Provision and Participation: Trends, Patterns and Highlights

Image by hazelowendmc via FlickrThe following was posted on a discussion forum I am a member of, and I felt that some of the findings challenged some of my assumptions, while other findings confirmed them :-) Makes for interesting reading:

"The Ministry of Education NZ has released a report on tertiary education sector e-learning provision from 2004 to 2008. This report looks at trends, patterns and highlights in e-learning in the tertiary sector over the time period 2004 to 2008. For the purposes of this report e-learning is defined as: ‘Learning that is enabled or supported with the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT).’ These ICTs include the internet, video conferencing, and interactive whiteboards.

As ICT use increases in the wider society and education, for example through the NZ Government’s Ultrafast Broadband programme, this report analyses how much e-learning is being provided at a system, course and sub-sector level.

Key learner group participation patterns in e-learning courses are analysed to help determine what the underlying drivers are for participation.

Summary of the key findings (taken from the Education Counts site)

• From 2004 to 2008, there was more provision of traditional delivery courses than e-learning but the proportion of e-learning provision increased especially at higher qualifications levels.

• The majority of provision at degree level uses e-learning but e-learning is in the minority at certificate level.

• Adoption of e-learning is greatest at universities.

• Younger people had higher e-learning participation than older people who had a majority involved in traditional delivery.

• Pasifika had higher e-learning participation than other ethnic groups. Māori had the lowest e-learning participation.

• Some subgroups were identified who used web-based delivery as a means of accessing tertiary education because they were unable to access traditional delivery teaching because of work or family commitments. This included some Māori and older learners.

The full  report is available on the Education Counts website. "