Cases on Formal and Informal E-Learning Environments: Opportunities and Practices

Today, the online sphere is no longer just an information repository or a place to search for resources. It has become instead a place supporting both intentional and non-intentional learning. Intentional, formal learning, often leads to certification, whereas informal learning is unstructured and takes place as part of daily work-related or leisure activities. Cases on Formal and Informal E-Learning Environments: Opportunities and Practices brings together cases outlining the practical aspect of formal, non-formal, and informal online learning. This book introduces conceptual aspects of these types of learning, knowledge-base, new learning paradigms, policy implications, evaluation and concerns, design, and development of online learning.

Harrison Hao Yang (Ed.D., Florida International Univeristy, 1996) is a Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at State University of New York at Oswego, USA. His research specialties include assessment and e-folios, distance/flexible education, information literacy, Information Technology diffusion/integration, learning theories, issues and trends on vocational-technical education, and Web/learning communities. Dr. Yang is the recipient of State University of New York (System-wide) Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2009, and SUNY Oswego President's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2006.

Shuyan Wang (Ph.D., Ohio University, 2004) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education at The University of Southern Mississippi, USA. Her research interests include technology integration into teaching and learning, technology integration into EFL classroom, distance learning, e-learning, assessment, and electronic portfolios. Dr. Wang has many publications in the format of books, book chapters, and journal articles. She has conducted large number of presentations at local, national, and international conferences.