E-Learning pedagogy in the Primary School Classroom: the McDonaldization of Education

This paper begins as an initial rejoinder to the ideas expressed by Ross (2000) in The Promise and Perils of E-Learning: A critical look at the new technology. In his article, Ross supports the traditional practices of pedagogy at the primary school level—face-to-face pedagogy— and then critiques what he describes as a ‘fetishisation’ of technological pedagogy—a fetishisation seen in the increase of Elearning pedagogy at the primary school level. The ideas expressed in this article gain their structure and momentum from Ross’s (2000) arguments against E-learning and extends a more cautious approach to the widespread belief in the success of E-learning pedagogy. The main thesis is that E-learning spawns numerous problems for primary students—namely a homogenisation and dehumanisation. This ultimately leads to what Ritzer (2000) calls a ‘McDonaldisation of education’.