E-Learning: Theories and Philosophies in Practice for Persons with Disabilities

This paper focuses on two aspects of e-learning. First, it analyse the different types of learning theories; second, it explores the philosophies in practice for persons with disabilities. In the era of digital revolution, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) became an effective tool to connect and to convey the knowledge within and outside the classroom in order to achieve the academic standards and 21st century goals. In the developing countries like India, still experiences are lagging behind in the integration of ICT in Education in general and pedagogy in particular. Institutional ambiences, persons with disabilities and teachers face many challenges infusing technicalities in the pedagogical practices and in e-learning. Teachers play a vital role in transactions of the content and to provide rich experiences to the students, but many of the teachers and students are unaware the potential usage of ICT tools and e-learning, due to lack of computer literacy skills, pedagogical knowledge which is much needed for technological integration and also the traditional habituation of teachers for pedagogical practices and their diversified perceptions, attitudes and fear to utilize the ICT in relation to teaching and learning process. Along with these issues, teachers have many questions and growing concerns in their mind: why we have to adapt technology? What is the importance of technology? How technology facilitates their teaching and students engagement in learning? How to choose and use ICT, e-learning technologies to deliver the content? The answer for these questions relies on the theories and philosophies of learning. In this situation, it helps practitioners to look into the theories and philosophies once again to understand the importance of ICT and e-learning to put in practices with philosophical and ecological lenses. In this context, this paper describes and gives a meaningful platform to discuss about the theories and philosophies of learning to support effective use of ICT and e-learning in relation to pedagogical practices of persons with disabilities.