The relationship to digital technology: a heuristic tool for differentiation in distance education

Abstract

Despite the flexibility and accessibility of distance learning (DL), learning management systems (LMS) often remain rigid and disconnected from learners’ everyday practices. To address this limitation, we introduce GENeSPRIT, a private workspace generator that enables learners to build and manage their own personal learning environments (PLEs). Grounded in a clinical didactic epistemology, this study investigates how the digital relationship can serve as a lever to differentiate learning practices within an innovative LMS. Findings reveal unique learner profiles, enabling more personalized training. They also suggest heuristic avenues for designing adaptive LMS better suited to student needs.