EeLT 2009 Workshop Chairs’ Message

Abstract

Lately eLearning is experiencing massive disruption through the continuous introduction of emerging technologies. However, there still is substantial scepticism about the effectiveness of these technologies within eLearning consumer and provider communities. Nowhere else is this more evident than in the area where Web 2.0 meets eLearning. Only now wikis are becoming accepted as a valid platform for knowledge transfer, both to and from eLearning consumers. Yet, the industry (as a whole) still has to cross the chasm with regards to more sophisticated Web 2.0 technologies such as SecondLife. Within the IS and IT community there is always the argument that academic research has only limited impact on practitioners. However, as indicated in the previous edition of this workshop [1], there is a need for strong and objective research on providing guidance for the eLearning industry on how best to analyse, implement and utilise these new emerging technologies. Targeting this niche, Janc and Olejnik (2009) present a high-level framework through the development of a Web 2.0 language tool. This provides a increased understanding for the language domain of eLearning but findings can also be extrapolated to the wider industry.