A one-stop knowledge resource, Emerging Technologies in Distance Education showcases the international work of research scholars and innovative distance education practitioners who use emerging interactive technologies for teaching and learning at a distance. This widely anticipated book harnesses the dispersed knowledge of international experts who highlight pedagogical, organizational, cultural, social, and economic factors that influence the adoption and integration of emerging technologies in distance education. Emerging Technologies in Distance Education provides expert advice on how educators can launch effective and engaging distance education initiatives in response to technological advancements, changing mindsets, and economic and organizational pressures. The volume goes beyond the hype surrounding Web 2.0 technologies and highlights the important issues that researchers and educators need to consider to enhance educational practice.

Educational learning theories like behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism have shaped
all forms of educational instructions in the twentieth century. These theories have their focus on
classroom teaching and teacher-pupil (one to one or one to many) relationships and have served
education well until now. With the proliferation of Web 2.0 tools in education, there is a need
to understand how our classrooms have been transformed and revisit these underpinning
learning theories in an attempt to understand our learners. In the twenty first century where the
online era of education is increasing rapidly, the new proposed learning theory like
connectivism, must be studied to depict if it can be used in learning and teaching, as it deals
with trends in learning, the use of technology and networks, and the diminishing life-span of
knowledge. This paper discusses connectivism and analyses its impact on learning and the Web
2.0 technologies on education. The results of a study on student’s attitudes towards learning are
also given. These discussions are important to understand how our classrooms and teaching and
learning systems will evolve in the future. (Authors' abstract)