Betty Collis & Jef Moonen: Learning Technology

Approaches

Techology provides important tools for learning in a knowledge society. We believe that workbench-type tools are particularly important. Four types of workbench-type tools that can be used for learning are:

1. Common application tools: Commonly available tools such as editors, spreadsheets, presentation tools, and drawing tools, as well as specific web tools such as browsers, search engines, bookmark tools, and blogging tools

2. Specialized tools and platforms, but not created especially for learning: Groupware tools and systems, cognitive tools such as mind-mapping and concept mapping software, EPSSs (electronic performance support systems), knowledge-management tools, conferencing and forum environments, editors for the creation of electronic resources including Web editors, and most importantly, Wiki databases

3. Workbenches created for learning purposes: Digital portfolios, and specific products such as the Electronics Workbench, and the Knowledge Forum.

4. Educationally oriented workbenches for teachers and instructional designers: Authoring tools, authoring environments, and Web-based course-management environments (CMSs) can be seen as workbenches for the instructors who use them to design and prepare Web-based course environments.

For Categories 1 and 2, it is the context in which the product is used that turns a workbench into a learning workbench. Category 4 tools offer workbench functionalities to instructors and developers, but whether the products that are created will be used as workbenches by the eventual learners depends on their design.

Last modified 11 March 2009