The Association of Finnish Non-fiction Writers published a collection of articles, Towards eSchool (in Finnish Sähköistyvä koulu) which can be downloaded from the association’s website. The collection aims to offer multiple perspectives on digital learning, and includes articles by 20 writers. I have picked three digital pros and three digital cons.
Digi cons
Antti Pirhonen: With digital learning, the expertise of teachers is not utilized, but pedagogical understanding is replaced by ”polished arguments of a local ICT supplier”.
Kai Hakkarainen and Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen: Teachers are using digital technology for everyday writing and basic tasks, but they are not applying it to larger projects and more demanding information building.
Timo Tossavainen: The advantages of elearning materials are mostly justified by automating the work of the teacher, not by new learning opportunities.
Digi pros
Johannes Pernaa and Simo Veistola: Challenging phenomena, for example in chemistry teaching, can be offered in an e-book as interactive simulations or animations.
Teuvo Sankila: If materials are in electronic format, the content is easy to translate and localize for different needs.
Kai Hakkarainen and Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen: Mobile and wireless technologies make it possible to transform any location into a learning space.
In my own article, I recommended an additional benefit: the potential for global networking and the interaction of experts on my favorite channel Twitter.