Critical Theory: Ideology Critique and the Myths of E-Learning

Norm Friesen uses crit­i­cal the­ory to de-mystify three par­tic­u­lar truths or myths in the e-learning domain…that 1) we live in a knowl­edge econ­omy, 2) learn­ers enjoy any­where any­time access, and 3) edu­ca­tional and social change is an inevitable con­se­quence of tech­no­log­i­cal change.

Under­stand­ing tech­nol­ogy as a scene of strug­gle rather than as a des­tiny or fait accom­pli might also help to guide the explo­ration of metaphors other than “impact” or “dis­sem­i­na­tion” when inquir­ing into the rela­tion­ship between tech­nol­ogy and chang­ing insti­tu­tions and practices.