Reference is made to “eLearning” theme (The Times, 24 May; TMID, 24 May; Business Weekly, 24 May).

In principle, I do agree that eLearning is “teaching using IT”. However, I do have some concerns about the “learning” aspect of eLearning. My uneasiness is about:

• Teacher preparation (whether they have the necessary IT skills – most of them have used the computer only to write their thesis);

• The time involved in preparing not only the lesson but the resources too;

• Students’ IT skills;

• The computer at home, its speed and its RAM; and

• The website daily update with the necessary resources. If the eLearning concept is not going to entail networking, then, it has failed before it even started.

Also, my concern revolves around the statement “…they expect to do and get everything from their computers.” As an information professional who has worked in a private school and taught information literacy, even if it was for a short while, I have seen students who while they feel comfortable with computers – here I am not debating whether they are knowledgeable or less – they fail to make use of the “book” in a proper way. In other words:

• Failing to properly use a dictionary;

• Not knowing what an index is and how it can help them in locating information;

• Not knowing the difference between a contents page and an index and where these are located in a book; and

• Not being able to identify the proper resource for their need.

This is only part of the story though.

Though I have repeated myself about this, I will state it yet another time:

• Having computers in classes will not resolve any problems regarding ICT skills and the hype will not do the trick;

• Computers are only a tool and not an end; and

• Knowing how to use a computer in general does not make you an information literate person. Besides, there is more to being able how to use effectively a computer to get what you need.

Finally, I would not be happy if someone would label me as an “e-native”. If a student is not information literate, then, calling him e-native is only a very small portion of the whole picture of being an information-literate citizen. Information literacy provides a holistic approach to learning the necessary skills and therefore, is the preferred term for “identification” of persons in the knowledge society.

In conclusion, my assertions regarding the time, effort and website update needed on the part of the teachers, have been derived from the following URL: http://home.um.edu.mt/qac/e-earning_

seminar/introduction_01.pdf.

Though this presentation has been addressed to academics, it can be equally addressed to teachers in view of the eLearning thrust. This presentation is interesting as a piece of information though it might be too complicated for newbies. The eLearning concept is very attractive but if it is not constantly updated, shared and used, it will fail its purpose and probably will do more harm than good.

Claudio Laferla

Tarxien