Collaboration in Learning Design Using Peer-to-Peer Technologies

11.3 Conclusions

Recent trends suggest that P2P technologies have the potential to change the way learning systems operate from the current highly centralized environments toward a blended environment that allows for nomadic and intermittently connected learners on the edge of the network. Current elearning community efforts to develop standards for interoperability to support meaningful, authentic learning activities suggest that it is now possible to exploit P2P in the instructional technology toolset. While P2P holds much promise, there are a few challenges that must be overcome before its true potential can be realised. This chapter provides a first overview of the implications of combining P2P technologies and LD with a view towards decentralising e-learning.