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Line Between E-Learning and E-Commerce Blurring

E-Learning Advisor Zone, Jan 08, 2002
Commentary by Stephen Downes

Educators should understand that convergence is about more than merging television and the internet. Of course, it is that and the merging of other media. But convergence also means blending different fields of endeavour. It's about a record company launching its own airline or a media icon launching a restaurant chain. Or in education, as this article suggests, it means a blurring of the line between e-learning and e-commerce. Or between e-learning and e-government.

CRLFConsider, for example, PostalU. As summarized by Vicki Phillips in this month's VUG, "Global postal agencies and suppliers can access elearning ranging from continuing education to degree programs online using the PostalU.com portal and elearning platform. PostalU is offered in a partnership between LearnSoft (Canada) and the Universal Postal Union of Berne,CRLFSwitzerland."

CRLFWe want to be careful here. Education has always had a social and political dimension. We want to teach not merely facts, but also values. So not all convergence is bad: if we can teach children responsible citizenship through the convergence of learning and politics, so much the better. The risk, though, is that students - and especially children - will become pawns in the larger struggles over ideology and philosophy. Convergence also makes this possible. Education may join commerce, sure, but education becomes commercial - or becomes a commercial - then there are implications that should make us uncomfortable.

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