Learning using electronic means covers a wide range of possibilities:
Online interactive content, courses and seminars
Mentoring services by email
Online chats with experts
Lab sessions via the internet or a company's intranet
What's wrong with e-learning?
Boring!
Have the technology but not the programs to engage learners
Too slow
Too much text, too cluttered
Linear approaches
The characteristics of today's learners:
Get bored easily - like things fast
Dislike long discussions
Like to discover/uncover for themselves
"Grasshopper learning" - not sequential
Good with technology - used to complex media input
Want entertainment with their learning
Make e-learning successful:
Individuals want
Easy access, speed and control
Relevance
Feedback, interaction
Organisations want system to uncover needs, track learner progress, help meet compliance - eg. safety programs
Use individual development plans:
Manager one-on-one to determine gaps/needs and establish plan
Plan linked to delivery of curriculum - by computer, instructor
Gaps met
Can be managed by computer
The latest in e-learning:
Use of knowledge bits or objects
Pretests/post-tests
Information deliverables - text, audio, video...
Open architecture pulls objects together for flexible delivery
Use of tagging - allows construction of individual courses to meet specific needs; meta-tags describe each knowledge bit - course pre-requisites, course length, level, content, language, author/tutor, keywords
Use of Learning Management Systems
Software for organisation to manage and coordinate learners, curriculum, material
Use of live learning
Interactive live coverage - international experts, etc
