Is Elearning Right For You?

Summary: Despite a considerable amount of publicity surrounding the teaching technique know as eLearning, there is little doubt that it hasn't lived up to its full potential as of yet. Even though the primary benefits of eLearning, cost and flexibility, remain extremely attractive, most individuals have not been exposed to this newer learning process. This teaching and learning technique has evolved over the last ten years into a highly effective method of education. The origin...

Despite a considerable amount of publicity surrounding the teaching technique know as eLearning, there is little doubt that it hasn't lived up to its full potential as of yet. Even though the primary benefits of eLearning, cost and flexibility, remain extremely attractive, most individuals have not been exposed to this newer learning process. This teaching and learning technique has evolved over the last ten years into a highly effective method of education. The original concept on its own was not well developed, but over time, elearning has emerged as an important part of a successful "blended" learning approach. While the more traditional learning methods are useful, they are beginning to become a thing of the past. The eLearning process has begun to overshadow these traditional learning approaches. Integrated with these more traditional methods, eLearning has become the preferred method of teaching in a number of different scenarios. What is eLearning? Elearning is a general term that relates to training of all sorts that is delivered through a single computer, with the use of devices like CD ROMs, mobile phones, digital television, Internet and wide area networks. In many cases, Elearning is considered an effective and efficient system of self-paced personal training. The major advantages of eLearning are the minimal cost per student and the extreme flexibility afforded with this method of training. It's available via the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whenever the student has the time and interest. Who Uses eLearning? The potential users of the eLearning system range from young to old. Has your child ever needed help with their math or geography? Have you ever wanted to learn more about how to start a home business? In the past, you would need to contact the local learning center to help your kids with their studies. Then you would have stopped by the local library, or book store, to find books on starting a home business. But with eLearning, this is no longer necessary. Businesses are also big users of the eLearning process, with employee training being a priority for many companies. Previously, businesses were forced to conduct training sessions en mass. As you can imagine, the disruption was considerable and lost work time prohibitive. However, Internet based elearning programs stepped in to fill these needs. Employees can now be trained at a fraction of the previous cost and when time permits - a real win-win situation. There are also elearning programs that provide for specialized training in high tech occupations and industries, such as, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and software and hardware development. What are the Equipment Requirements? In most cases, the core requirements to participate in the eLearning experience are a computer, an Internet or broadband connection, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and any supplemental reading materials. Some courses may require additional software, but in today's internet environment, most can be found for free or at minimal cost. Despite the numerous advantages of eLearning, the method may not be for everyone. Because of its flexibility, this approach generally requires some level of self discipline. So for those who feel more comfortable in a traditional classroom setting, with fixed assignments and scheduled testing, you will be more successful in this environment. Remember, learning starts with the learner, not the teacher. If the eLearning experience sounds right for you, then why not take advantage of the multitude of elearning opportunities available to you on today's Internet. You'll be glad you did!