An Introduction to e-learning
"Online learning will rapidly become one of the
most cost-effective ways to educate the world's expanding workforce."
--Jack Messman
Online
learning, also known as e-learning, is fast becoming a preferred
training mode in industry and academia alike. In this blog post, we will
look at some of the basic concepts, advantages of e-learning, and
explore the use of technology in e-learning.
Online
learning can be asynchronous. Being asynchronous means that learners
determine when and how to access online learning content. This is in
contrast with the synchronous model of training where learners generally
move through content in a pre-determined sequence.
Another
characteristic of online learning is that it is available ‘on demand’
and ‘just in time’. Online learning content is often customized and
personalized as per preferences of the learner. The ‘just in time’
delivery model allows the content to be continuously updated resulting
in content relevant to the context.
Online learning is learner
controlled. This implies that the learner has the option to pause and
play content at the learner’s pace. This also allows the learner to
reflect on content learned before moving on to later modules.
The content
used for online learning is designed to be re-usable. ‘re-usable’ in
this context means that basic units of content can be re-assembled to
generate different types of content, suited to different needs of the
intended audience.
Online learning is also designed to be platform
independent. Content can be transformed into a variety of formats like
XML, HMTL, PDF, e-book, etc., resulting on the same content being easily
available across different platforms.
Online learning also allows
learners across the globe to collaborate in real time resulting in a
highly interactive learning experience. Online learning when used for
distance education enables trainers to interact with a large number of
trainees at multiple locations in real-time, resulting in cost-effective
training programs.
Moving on to technologies used in e-learning, the
online learning industry initially tried to replicate the class room
experience online. Later, the industry was guided by the fact that
technology is only the delivery mechanism and the industry has focused
on the best method of online content delivery that is most comfortable
to learners.
The earliest of the e-learning courses were
computer based training and web based training. In computer based
training, learning content on CD-ROM or other media was distributed to
students and the in the case of web based training, content was
delivered over the Internet. In both cases, the course was meant to be
taken by trainees as an asynchronous, self-paced course. Web based
training allows content to be easily updated and if the trainer and
trainee are online at the same time, this mode allows interaction. The
disadvantages of web based training include requirement of Internet
connectivity and if the connectivity rates are high, it can be an
expensive option in the case of large multimedia files.
Most of the
computer based trainings and web based trainings are structured in a
linear fashion where the trainee is expected to follow a single path
through the course content. Some courses allow the learner to navigate
based on needs or interests. There are also sophisticated courses, in
which the path is customized as per trainee need and the progress the
trainee makes in the initial stages of the course.
The
technologies used for delivering asynchronous e-learning include e-mails
and discussion forums. E-mails provide a faster means of traditional
correspondence course. E-mails also act as a support medium in the case
of learning management systems that allow uploading and sharing of
content. Discussion forums provide a mechanism for discussion on
specific course topics as well as informal exchanges related to course
delivery. ‘Threading’ is a feature, which allows discussions to be
grouped together, making it simpler to find related postings and
responses. Threaded discussions are often also collapsible and
expandable to allow students to manage the number of posts shown on the
screen at a time and to facilitate browsing groups of posts.
Audio
conferencing (using telephone or VoIP [Voice over Internet Protocol]),
electronic white boards, instant messaging, text chat, video
communication, and web casting are some of the technologies that support
delivering synchronous e-learning courses.
Audio
conferencing allows a group to interact in real time by sharing voice
accompanied by slides or text. Audio quality is often a bottle neck
while using this mode of delivery since poor audio quality will lead to a
poor classroom experience for the trainees. The length of audio
conferencing sessions, similar to traditional classroom lectures, need
to be restricted to 1-2 hours. The rest of the technologies we are going
to discuss below are used together with audio conferencing to enhance
the classroom experience for synchronous e-learning courses.
An electronic
white board typically consists of an electronic version the dry-erase
boards found in conventional lecture rooms. They are used for free hand
writing and drawing, and range from simple graphical editors to
sophisticated versions incorporating slide show and other applications.
Instant
messaging and text chat allows short and frequent messaging between
participants of a synchronous e-learning program. Instant messaging
typically involves pairs of individuals whereas in text chat a group of
individuals is involved. Instant Messaging and chat tools vary in
complexity from simple messaging to complex ones with built-in file
sharing and private messaging.
Videoconferencing extends the
capability of audio conferencing by the addition of video.
Videoconferencing enables instructors to either stream video or enable
videoconferencing, between instructors and students, between students,
or between multiple classrooms. As in the case of audio, video quality
has to be maintained for this mode of delivery to be successful.
Streaming video is becoming more widely adopted and is often replayed
rather than live.
Web casting involves combining one or more the
technologies that we discussed above to delivery synchronous learning
experience to students.
Before we conclude this blog post on e-learning,
let us look at a learning related quote in the context of organizations.
"An
organization's ability to learn and translate that learning into action
is the ultimate competitive advantage."
--Jack Welch
And e-learning
will help organizations learn what they need to know, when they need to
know.