The influence of pervasive and integrative tools on learners' experiences and expectations of study

Introduction: the future for learners' experiences\ud The opening paragraphs of any recent policy documents are a testimony to the recognised importance of e-learning in education. As the case studies in this book also attest, e-learning models and theories, simulations, computer modelling and social software are now an integral part of most learners' experience and environment. Similarly, institutions now recognise the strategic importance of ICT and have central policies in place to ensure that there is a technical infrastructure available to support all aspects of the learner's lifecycle; from recruitment through to assessment.