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E-Learning

In the area of E-Learning we analyze goals, benefits and risks of an electronically supported teaching and learning. We develop learning environments for problem-based learning as well as necessary tools. These learning environments are applied in our own academic courses at Osnabrück University and as Blended Learning solutions in other remote institutions, bridging gaps between space and time. Actually, we are engaging in educational networks to study what they might deliver for academic teaching, and we do so primarily from an organizational perspective.

The term “e-learning” describes a wide range of electronically supported forms of teaching and learning. These forms range from a single learning with CBT or rather web-based tutorial systems, over different kinds of virtual courses (e.g. virtual seminars, virtual lectures), up to a problem-based learning in virtual societies. E-learning demarcates from the form of Computer-based Learning (CUL) discussed in the 90´s or rather the Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) by putting the aspect of the technical and organizational networking in focus: On the basis of electronic nets like the internet local and temporal distributed instruction systems can be realized.

Inside of the education and training e-learning is located in the human resources development. It takes an increasingly more important role for the organizational change and the knowledge management in enterprises. E-learning for more than one enterprise is part of the superior electronic business.

E-learning matters for universities because of strategic reasons. It supports flexible education, more efficient structures and internationalization strategy. The department Business Studies/Organization and Information Systems pursues the following targets in the field of research of e-learning:

• description of procedure models for the development, the application and the evaluation of systems of instruction for e-learning

• theory-based development of standardized approaches and methods for the support of sustainable e-learning offers

• design of modular systems of instruction

• information-technological architectures for the administration and delivery of content on the basis of Open Source Software

• advantages and risks of academic networks for across location exchange of teaching courses

(for further information please contact Uwe Hoppe)