When E-learning began to really hit the training market back in the1990s it was hailed as the successor to classroom based training. However, these promises never quite materialised and early adopters were left with huge libraires of expensive online courses that they couldn’t get their learners to engage with. Traditional training companies everywhere breathed a huge sigh of relief as organisations began to wind down their e-learning offerings.
Fastforward a couple of decades (give or take a few years) and E-learning has advanced enormously. The days of wading through glorified PowerPoint slides are (or at least should be) long gone. Instead today’s e-learning puts the learner at the heart of the process giving them the opportunity to tailor their own e-learning experience by being:
- Highly Interactive
Each learner is encouraged to contribute and add to the learning content rather than being a bystander in their own learning experience. - Unstructured
Content can be added as and when required, constantly changing and reflecting the needs of the individual, team and organisation. - A Path of Discovery
Participants should be encouraged to explore learning content rather than follow a defined menu. - Highly Visual
The e-learning should not just be pretty pictures but instead should provide visual tools that help the learning process. - Modular
Not just one tool but multiple channels and modules all designed to interact with each and with the learner. - Results Driven
The e-learning should focus on learning objectives, which are supported through the analysis of activity. - Web 2.0 Influenced
Providing clean simple and logical interfaces.
