2. What is E-Learning by the way?
Did you know that almost everyone who uses a computer has completed some
type of e-learning? Perhaps it was called web-based training, or online learning, or
computer-based training, but it’s all under the same e-learning umbrella. E-
learning can encompass a wide variety of online initiatives.
A good, broad way to think about e-learning is as the use of electronic devices
(computers, tablets, or phones) to deliver educational or training content to
learners.
3. Why E-Learning?
“There are two great equalisers in life - the internet and education. By combining
the two, e-learning will be the great equaliser in the next century. By eliminating
barriers of time, distance, and socio-economic status, individuals can now take
charge of their own lifelong learning.”
John Chambers
CEO of CISCO systems
4. Why is E-Learning Valuable?
Has a Global Reach: E-learning can simply be
placed online and easily accessed by people
around the world. There is no need for
expensive travel or meetings across multiple
time zones.
Spans multiple devices/mobile: Online
courses can work on computers as well as on
mobile devices, such as smartphones and
tablets. This means e-learning courses can
literally be in the hands of the people who
need them, at all times.
5. Why is E-Learning Valuable?
Is just-in-time/needs-based: E-learning
authoring software is so easy to use that anyone
can create, publish, and share a course within a
few hours, allowing you to provide people with
resources and training they can access right when
they need it.
Is more efficient: With e-learning, you can
develop a course that can be distributed
electronically to thousands instead of having to
organize in-person training sessions whenever
people need to be brought up to speed.
6. Why is E-Learning Valuable?
Reduces costs: All of the abovementioned factors
result in a cost savings for organizations that use e-
learning courses to replace some of their
traditional instructor-led training.
Allows for consistent quality and content: When
you develop an e-learning course, you can deliver
the same message to all learners consistently. In
classroom training, the message, equipment, and
other conditions can vary widely from one session
to the next, which can affect the outcome of the
course.
7. Why is E-Learning Valuable?
Can be either an asynchronous or synchronous activity: Traditionally, e-
learning has been asynchronous, which means there is no predetermined time for
the learning to take place. Everyone can go at their own pace, and take their time
to learn what they need to know, when they need to know it. However, more
synchronous e-learning is now being offered through web conferencing and chat
options. The great thing about e-learning is it gives you the option to do one, or
both.
8. E-Learning vs. Classroom Learning
E-learning Vs classroom learning is similar to cell
phones Vs pay phones at the call cabins.
Cell phones allow you to communicate any time and
usually anywhere, by having a properly configured
phone.
E-Learning allows you to learn anywhere and usually
at any time, by having a properly configured
computer
9. Pros of E-Learning
It's less expensive to produce
It's self-paced
It’s self-directed and moves faster
It can work from any location and any time
It can be updated easily and quickly
It can lead to increased retention and a stronger
grasp on the subject
24/7 accessibility makes scheduling and
managing easy for large groups of students
10. Pros of E-Learning
It provides a consistent message
Enhances computer and Internet
skills
Travel time and associated costs are
reduced or eliminated
Inexpensive Worldwide Distribution
Cross-platform Support
11. Cons of e-Learning
1. No self-discipline
Proponents of e-learning claim that the main advantage of this
learning method is that it is self-paced. And it’s true. If you need to watch
a video again, you can. If you want to take a break from the material, you
can stop and come back to it when you are feeling refreshed.
However, because of this inherent freedom, e-learning often translates to
no learning. People may switch off from fully engaging in the material,
and see the activity as a tick box exercise – just another item on an ever-
growing “to do” list.
In a self-paced environment, an e-learning task can undergo an
irresistible gravitational pull to the bottom of the list, where it can
languish for days, weeks, or even indefinitely.
The fact is, many people find it much easier to internalise new skills and
knowledge through active training sessions with other people, than
through an impersonal e-learning module.
12. Cons of e-Learning
No face-to-face interaction
While e-learning can be quite interactive these days,
through the use of video conferences, webinars, and face-to-
face video chat, it still isn’t the same as sitting across the
room from a real person. Simply put, there is no substitute
for interacting with, and learning from, a fellow human.
Lack of flexibility
E-learning can be great for learning specific skills and
for knowledge that needs to be transferred. However, with
more complex skills and competencies, it is incredibly
difficult to put together an effective e-Learning programme.
And in a business environment, these complex skills are
often the most crucial.
13. Cons of e-Learning
Lack of input from trainers
E-learning is structured. When a programme is developed,
it is based on what the course developers think is the right
curriculum at the time. However, learning materials can quickly
become outdated – and may contain errors even from the
beginning.
The best trainers will sit and talk to people and engage with
them to find out what they need to know, and how they need to
learn it. Student feedback is highly valuable, however, that's far
less possible with an e-learning course.
Skilled trainers and subject matter experts are at their very best
when they are being grilled by - and interacting with - their
students. This interaction results in a better training process and
better trainers. In e-learning, it's largely not present.
14. Cons of e-Learning
Slow evolution
After an e-learning course is developed, it can take an
inordinately long time for any needed changes to be worked
in. If a business model changes, or market conditions are
disrupted, online training can quickly be made obsolete. This
is a waste of the time and energy that were invested to get
the course up and running.
However, with standard training – conducted in the training
room, with live trainers – the course can be changed rapidly
and even on the fly. Live training remains fluid, and will
always be in tune with the particular needs of the business.
15. Cons of e-Learning
Good e-learning is difficult to do
Developing a really effective e-learning course takes time,
money, and a great amount of expertise. A good e-Learning
course involves multimedia, custom web development,
technical support, and strong User Interaction design.
Although the market is improving, many of the first e-
learning courses were clunky and unwieldy, and the technical
and design problems negatively impacted the learning
process.
With live training, the standard systems, processes, and best
practices are far more established and well understood. The
best practices for e-learning courses are still evolving and
are a lot trickier to get right.
16. Cons of e-Learning
Lack of transformational power
It should be said that e-learning is effective for training
process execution and for imparting certain kinds of
knowledge. However, real learning – game changing
learning – comes about through live connection with a more
experienced practitioner.
It is through this engagement that a true transformation
occurs and the learner becomes more effective as an
individual, moving to their next level of performance. Such
change is not par for the course with e-learning.
17. Cons of e-Learning
No peripheral benefits
When you bring together a team of people to be trained with
subject matter experts, you set the stage for something more than just
basic learning. If structured right, the dynamics of personality,
intelligence, vision, and creativity all intertwine to create a group that is
more than the sum of its parts.
Group situations can produce solutions to core business problems and
bring about massive transformations - largely because of the sheer
energy that is produced by the environment of a team that has come
together for a single purpose.
Similarly, live training can foster team-building and create an
environment where individuals deepen their relationships, get know
each other better and learn in a unique environment where they all have
the same goal. Done right, training is about much more than just
pushing new information into employees' heads.
18. Limitations Of Online E-Learning
It may be a "solo" act.
It is true that, although online learning might be convenient
and flexible, it is also a solo act. It will not be easy for all of
your learners to feel comfortable when participating in
online discussions and engaging more actively with their
online instructors or their virtual classmates. Furthermore,
some people absolutely need personal contact with their
educators or trainers in order to learn successfully.
Constructive feedback can be very effective, but if not given
properly or in time, it might also be limited. In addition,
some types of learning problems may be difficult to be
addressed online, and some questions can be lost in a sea
of requests and inquiries. This sometimes makes learners
feel they lack support and reassurance.
19. Limitations Of Online E-Learning
It may be impersonal.
No matter how hard we try to fully
transfer human communication to
online platforms, no matter how
natural it seems to form relationships
behind computer screens, a virtual
environment is just not human.
Nothing can replace human contact.
20. Limitations Of Online E-Learning
Too much time spent in front of a
computer screen may be harmful.
Being constantly online is the new reality,
but the truth is that using a computer or a
tablet all the time can cause poor vision,
strain injuries, and other physical problems.
Consider sending guidelines about right
sitting posture, desk height, etc. along with
your eLearning course; it might be very
useful to your audience.
21. Limitations Of Online E-Learning
It requires self-discipline.
If your eLearning audience lacks self-
discipline, it is unlikely that they will be
motivated to self study. Traditional learning
and training have the benefit of easily
tracking both progress and falling behind;
this works for many learners as well, as
some people prefer their progress to be
closely monitored in order to perform.
22. Limitations Of Online E-Learning
Possible lack of control.
No matter how carefully you design your
eLearning course, there is no guarantee that
your messages will get across. You offer your
learners control over their eLearning
experience and this is great, but are they
going to use it effectively? There is always
the risk of your learners just going through
the material without paying any attention.
23. Conclusion
E-learning is not just a change of technology. It is part of a redefinition of how we
as a species transmit knowledge, skills, and values to younger generations of
workers and students. This presentation makes a few predictions of how e-
learning and the functions it serves will continue to develop. Learners will have
access to millions or billions of knowledge modules. Some will be Web pages with
simple text and graphics. Others may include multimedia simulations. In many
fields, e-learning has become the default way to conduct training or to provide
education. There are four secrets of e-learning. The first secret is to teach what
learners need to learn in the way they most naturally learn. The second secret is to
define clear learning objectives. The third secret builds on the first two. It is to
focus on the right objectives. The final secret is in the power of testing.