Let's start by what I've discovered as a massive issue for online learning (it's an issue for me at least).  One very big distraction....the world wide web.  I logged on 1.5 hrs ago to do this blog.  But I thought I'd just do some more reading so I followed a link, and then another, then there was the blog from the site, to another blog....and on it went.  I ended up here.  There was  a suggestion that "one possible option for fighting distraction in online courses is to increase student engagement and accountability."  Its not that I'm not engaged (I promise I've not been on Facebook), maybe it's all too engaging.  I've stayed on topic.  The problem is the massive amount of content available can lead you (well me obviously)  to distraction.

Mobile learning and online collaboration are potentially just this era's 'group work,' they have replaced the traditional physical settings and replaced it with new technologies.  The goals of the eLearning theories appear to align with the Constructivists.   When looking at constructivist theorist such as Biggs, it's ultimately the self directed learner that we hope is the outcome.  Wanting them to achieve  meaning through actively selecting and constructing their own knowledge. Not just as individuals, but through collaboration to achieve greater knowledge, that continues to build upon previous experiences.  The modes of learning I've experienced in the first 2 weeks of ED6114 such as the discussion forums and blogs, I think fall directly into the category of tools that align with the constructivist learning theory