Continuing my number of fabric that reaction the issues I most get asked for by learning professionals, I consider one that's always tough answer: what is e-learning outstanding for?
There's nearly always an strategy behind this question or at least a outstanding deal of issue about the potential of e-learning. What people really want to know is whether e-learning has any significance beyond the obviously restricted industry of regulatory/compliance training. In particular they want to know whether it has the potential to process what they are currently doing in the classroom.
As with all of these content, fit complicated by the truth that the questioner very hardly ever states what type of e-learning they are considering about. All types of e-learning - self-study books, actions and designs, unique sessions, digital online content, collaborative online learning - has its own unique benefits and drawbacks and therefore very different potential applications. However, it is possible to reaction the question without identifying further:
E-learning, in its many and different types, is perfect for any learning activity which does not have to be conducted face-to-face (or, more hardly ever, using an different technique such as print).
This is a powerful announcement but not over-stating the scenario. E-learning provides the same to all learning actions that would formerly have been conducted by other indicates. It also provides opportunities that have no precedent in traditional media. It cannot be used in any scenario, however, because of some obvious limitations:
• Without impressive add-ons, pcs execute with only two emotions - perspective and sound - and can only display so much on a display at once (even with a retina display!).
• Access to fast techniques is still not well-known, particularly on the move.
• Not everyone has the necessary program and elements, or the ability to use them.
So what do these restrictions preclude? Assuming that availability the right pcs and the right techniques is not an issue, then you can definitely remove all those learning actions that need a rich nerve experience, i.e. the ability to clearly see actions (i.e. more than you can with a webcam), get in touch with or function gadgets and other factors, or to actually link to others or the wider environment. In these conditions (which only signify a number of the conditions with which most learning professionals are confronted) e-learning can still usually execute team part as a feature of a mixture, even if it cannot do the whole job.
I dubious that this truth is not going to meet most questioners, so next event I'll be more particular about the potential applications for each of the main types of e-learning.
What is e-learning outstanding for?
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