Web site in relation to the eLearning age Essay Example for Free

Web site in relation to the eLearning age Essay Electronic Learning, which is frequently called as eLearning is a form of TSL (Technology-Supported Learning) in which the presence of computer technology system is compulsory as the mean of conveying a wide range of information. This paper aims to show advantages of this Web-based or online educational training system through one of the world’s famous wikis—the Wikipedia. Furthermore, it provides an outline with regard to the critical review on the eLearning along with selected empirical items of information or data. Wiki: A collaborative Web site in relation to the eLearning age Wiki (software), from its Hawaiian term for quick developed by Ward Cunningham, accumulates a variety of Web pages for a collaborative works on Web-based educational training or resources (Encyclop? dia Britannica Online, 2009). One of the world’s well-known wikis is a non-profit organization of Wikimedia Foundation—the Wikipedia. According to the official Web site of the Wikipedia, it is a â€Å"multilingual, Web-based, free-content encyclopedia project,† which is written by registered users (freelance writers and online editors) from different parts of the World. As its comprehensible representation in the world of information and communication technology, Wiki is a type of Web-based application (such as Web 2. 0), which is being edited by someone else such as freelance writers who contribute various articles on line and virtual editors who do the editing job anywhere in the real time. For a better comprehension with such a conceptualization, Rob Edmonds’s book entitled ‘Up from the grassroots’ shows the significant and real advantages of the Wiki (software) in the lives of the number of people during the digital era. Major Idea or Essential Part of the Book Through Wiki software, most companies whether for-profit or not-for-profit organizations are able to provide the most methodological and/or advantageous system of fostering a wide range of information from the various resources. Edmonds’s ‘Up from the grassroots’ shows the fact along with the comprehensive data and empirical bases that which concerns the beneficial factors of clinging to the modern style of collaboration. Wiki, according to the conceptualization and personal experience of the author, such a Web-based application or the online educational resources makes every thing easier—from contributing the written articles on line via the Wiki software of a particular Web site to conducting a research of what other members have made and uploaded on the Web site’s system, which uses Wiki. A Critical Analysis on the Conceptualization of Wiki As an analysis of the major points of the author with regard to ‘clinging on the Wiki for certain Web-based applications of eLearning,’ it becomes quite easy to distinguish its beneficial factors to the number of people around the world (â€Å"Up from the grassroots,† 2006). First, even though some of the Wiki applications help people collaborate with the various works on line such as fostering different items of information from published books in the library to digital copies on the Internet, yet, it is considered as â€Å"informal learning† for a reason that learning takes place anywhere. While formal education or learning is done in a school, most users/visitors who stumbled on the Web site, which provides a wide range of data or instructions, are able to learn in any convenient places anytime they want. Nevertheless, such concern does not give more troubles or disadvantages, as the issue with regard to informal learning is concerned; as long as it broadens the bounds of knowledge sharing, it may help support every individual to learn new information. Furthermore, Wiki does not only help support people in terms of online education or eLearning solutions, but it also provides interactive communications for software’s users. Additionally, most companies rely on the Wiki software to provide their clients with the easiest system of creating Web sites and online databases. Hence, as a critical review on the entire conceptualization of the author, it becomes quite easy to distinguish his point of view—the possibility to create a more strategic and systematic way of uploading information from an individual source via this web-based application software. Therefore, as an observation, it becomes quite easy for every individual (particularly the reader) to be well-informed, as the book provides with insightful information and ideas with regard to the Wiki (A collaborative Web site in relation to the eLearning age). Given those world-renowned Web sites and companies used in the book as the reliable sources to represent the author’s perspective, Edmonds’s ‘Up from the grassroots’ motivates every reader to delve into a deeper knowledge of clinging to the Wiki application resources, which provide the easiest way of collaborating with research stuffs such as articles, information, communication etc. Conclusion I have learned essentially from every concept or perspective of the author and it urged me to seek different ways to criticize its objective—why it is written and to whom it is written for. Upon a critical analysis of the entire book, the paper is intended to give more information with regard to the process of online collaboration. It is written for every individual, particularly the people whose passion is to collaborate with one another; conduct certain research strategies and work on various subjects in an easier manner. Moreover, given the insightful explication concerning the various enterprises such as the â€Å"Microsoft, CommSecure, Novell, Bank of America and GlaxoSmithKline,† which cling to this Web-based application software, it gives additional empirical bases on the reliable materials contributed by the book per se (â€Å"Up from the grassroots,† 2006). This means that the materials used in the book shows reliability as to the scholastic issues and contemporary concerns. Moreover, as an analysis of the contents of the book, this is still valid as the issue with regard to the current trends for online collaboration or wikis is involved. Nevertheless, there are changes happened since the book is first published; more Web sites existed and now are apt for discussing the author’s perspective. References Edmonds, R. (2006). Up from the grassroots. E. learning Age. ABI/INFORM Global, pp. 14-16 Wiki. (2009). In Encyclop? dia Britannica. Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Encyclop? dia Britannica Online: Babylon Dictionary and Translation Software Wikipedia: About. (2009) In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Wikipedia: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Wikipedia:About