Title: External resources in e-learning - dominant discourse?

Authors: Anna Ślósarz

Addresses: Institute of Polish Philology, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Podchorążych 2, 20-084 Kraków, Poland

Abstract: The study was based on the online course Auditory Transmissions in the School Reception. External resources have been examined: hyperlinks invoked by a teacher, by full-time students and by part-time students. It turned out that the teacher pointed out mainly social, institutional, scientific and educational websites. But the students mentioned mainly commercial websites. The study reflects how students use the internet. The dominance of commercial websites is consistent with the habits of students, but contrary to institutional scientific discourse. The tested course was addressed to mature students, teaching speciality, strongly connected with traditional Polish literature and culture due to the subject of their studies. The external resources of other online courses, especially dedicated to students beginning their education, probably would show an even greater dominance of commercial resources. Contemporary dominant media discourse form largely commercial entities. It is reflected in the structure of external resources of the examined online course.

Keywords: e-learning; electronic learning; online learning; commercial websites; convergence; discourse; external resources; lifelong learning; hyperlinks; internet usage; student use; Poland.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2015.074231

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2015 Vol.25 No.4, pp.411 - 430

Received: 30 Mar 2015
Accepted: 31 Mar 2015
Published online: 19 Jan 2016 *

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