Journal 9:E-Learning Among Kids

The concept of alifelong learning is aims to enable people to learn autonomously throughout their whole life. In this way the concept meets the requirements of the knowledge-based society, in which the resource of knowledge is a central precondition for performance and competitiveness.

eLearning is an important instrument for the support of learning processes, in particular allowing for an individualisation of the learning content and flexibility with regard to the times and locations of learning. As a result eLearning is an appropriate tool, especially in the context of lifelong learning, to fulfil target group-specific characteristics and requirements according to the phase of life and learning situation.

Children as target group
The first educational goal for children in their early phase of life considered to be the development of competencies. This comprises a combination of personality development, learning skills, the ability to acquire and to apply knowledge, linguistic, social and motor skills, as well as media skills. Informal learning is thus considered to be the most important type of learning with respect to scope and quality. As it is not only the informal background, but rather also the influence of educational institutions and peer groups which are crucial for learning success in the early learning phase. In addition, there is a nedd to guide them with counselling and preparation.

Media as a medium to attract kids

Consideration should be given to the fact that educational influences and measures are effective with children as a target group in addition to their own child-related preferences. For children the computer is an appliance which is predestined for informal learning, as it is preferably used for playing games. In order to understand informal learning with media, it is important that it also portrays itself as experiential learning, implicit learning, everyday learning, self-directed learning and competence development learning.