Learner types for blended learning

2. E-LEARNER TYPES

3. WOLF
Once a week, lots of
activity, then lost again
until next week.

4. ELEPHANT
Short steady visits
every day.

5. SQUIRREL
Completes 2 weeks in one
session then disappears for
some time.

6. MOUSE
Only once a week, reads and
contributes little.

7. MOLE
Posts are disembodied and
at random.

8. RABBIT
Prolific message writer,
always online, responds
rapidly.

9. STAG
Tendency to dominate
discussions at times.

10. MAGPIE
Steals ideas without
acknowledging.

11. DOLPHIN
Intelligent, good
communicator,
playful online.

12. Gilly Salmon’s E-novices
E-moderating: The Key to teaching and Learning Online, 2011,
Routledge

13. The
Swimmers
• Dive in early
• Have relevant experience
• Are usually willing to help others
• May become disruptive if they think the activities are not
demanding or interactive enough
• Are likely to claim they know of better systems than the
one you’ve chosen to use.

14. The Wavers
• Need help and encouragement to get started
• Usually arrive after the main group
• May need help in sifting through a mass of messages
• Feel there is too little time to do everything
• Do very well and become enthusiasts once they’ve logged
on, got going and are given support.

15. The Drowners
• Have little motivation to succeed
• Complain at every opportunity that online work is irrelevant or too
time consuming
• Find the relationship building and socializing online difficult,
especially if they are used to taking a leading role in face-face
groups.
• Find it very difficult to log on
• Or promise to log on but do not
• May be reluctant to ask for or accept
help
• May perceive working online with
others to be disruptive to their learning

16. Lurkers:
students who log on but
don’t contribute
• Uncomfortable in Public
• Learning about the group
• Building an online identity
• Concern that postings become too permanent
• Communication overload
• Someone else already contributed what he/she wanted to post
• Group characteristics (fall outs with other students)
• Personal characteristics (e.g.. Introvert in a group of extroverts.)