This document provides an introduction and overview of e-learning. It defines e-learning as learning that uses computer technology, usually via the Internet. It discusses how companies can benefit from e-learning by allowing employees to learn without traveling, at their convenience and based on their learning styles. It also addresses common e-learning models, research showing e-learning outcomes are comparable to face-to-face, and considerations for implementing an e-learning program such as barriers, management support needs, and technology requirements. The document also summarizes e-learning styles, examples of blended courses, and considerations for student and instructor responses to e-learning.
2. CONTENTS What is E-Learning? Is E-Learning Something Completely New? How Can Your Company Benefit from E-Learning? E-Learning Models Employees and E-Learning E-Learning as a Business Tool Company with a Small Budget and E-Learning Is Online Learning Strategic? How Many Students are Learning Online? Are Learning Outcomes in Online Courses are Comparable to Face-to-Face?
3. CONTENTS What is the Impact of the Economy on Online Education? What are Typical Barriers for Implementing E-Learning? What does E-Learning Need from Your Management Team? How Critical is Leading-Edge Technology to E-Learning? Do You Need to Eliminate Your Classroom Training? What are the Basic Styles for E-Learning? What is a Blended Course? E-Learning Examples Summary Assignment
4. What is e-Learning? E-learning (electronic learning) is a term covering a wide set of applications and processes. There many different terms which are used interchangeably: technology-based learning, technology-based training, computer-based training, computer-based learning, computer-based instruction, computer-based education, Web-based training, Internet-based training, Intranet-based training, distance education, distance learning, distance training.
5. Is E-Learning Something Completely New? Video courses Audiotape courses Computer-based, self-paced training (text-based and with multimedia) E-learning via the Internet.
6. How Can Your Company Benefit from E-Learning? Employees can learn: without traveling to class at their convenience based on their learning styles: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic & Tactile. E-learning provides for your company: Cost saving Learning quality Rapid training roll Copying with shortened knowledge life-cycles
7. E-Learning Models Technical Training Professional Skills Training New-Job-Role Training “Update” Training “Tip of the Iceberg” Training
8. Employees and e-Learning Research shows that e-learning works just as well as classroom learning. Some employees may find it difficult to learn in e-learning environment. Some things can be more effective when done in a classroom environment. For example, lab exercises which need access to real hardware.
9. E-Learning as a Business Tool you teach C++ because your employees need it to improve their work skills teaching negotiation skills your employees improves your company’s customer support learning about the new product helps your employees to sell your company’s product better.
10. Company with a Small Budget and e-Learning E-learning doesn't always require a large budget. If you have a small budget, you should look at "renting" or "leasing" entire e-learning solution instead of building one. Or you might consider "renting" a part of your e-learning solution and building only part of it. There are many learning vendors who have e-learning courseware available from their web sites. You can contact one of them to deliver e-learning course to your employees. There are different ways to deliver e-learning inexpensive way. You can use a free learning management system as Schoology or Google Apps for education.
11. Classroom Courses vs. E-Learning The traditional learning solution involves gathering everyone in a classroom and presenting the material. It might be a simple presentation-style lecture class or a full-blown class with lectures, hands-on exercises, and group projects. These traditional solutions have drawbacks: The time it takes to gather all employees in a classroom. The high cost of reaching all of the employees. Earlier technologies for learning at a distance included CD-ROMs, audiotapes, and videotapes. However, in recent years the Internet became most popular e-learning delivery solution because of accessibility, familiarity, and convenience.
12. Is Online Learning Strategic? The percentage of institutions that agree that online education is critical to their long-term strategy reached its highest level in 2010 (63.1%). Likewise the percent disagreeing is at the lowest level (12.3%) for the eight years of the survey.
13. How Many Students are Learning Online? For the past seven years online enrollments have been growing substantially faster than overall higher education enrollments. Over 5.6 million students were taking at least one online course during the fall 2009 term; Nearly thirty percent of higher education students now take at least one course online.
14. Are Learning Outcomes in Online Courses are Comparable to Face-to-Face? 66% of academic leaders rated the learning outcomes in online education as the same or superior to those in face-to-face.
15. What is the Impact of the Economy on Online Education? The bad economic times can be good for higher education enrollments The decreased availability of good jobs encourages more people to seek education Employed individuals seek to improve their chances for advancement by advancing their education. The economic impact on institutional budgets has been mixed: 47% have seen their budgets decrease, but 27% have experienced an increase.
16. What are Typical Barriers for Implementing e-Learning? Natural resistance to change New instructor skills New technology Course availability Budget
17. What does E-Learning Need From Your Management Team? Realistic expectations Leadership Support
18. How Critical is Leading-Edge Technology to E-Learning? Using leading-edge technology is important but not critical. With a strong instruction design, you can make even an e-mail-based correspondence course work effectively. With a weak instructional design, you won’t be able to make the jazziest virtual classroom work effectively. Furthermore, in e-learning and in everything else, fancier things usually cost more than simple things.
19. Do You Need to Eliminate Your Classroom Training? Classroom training does not conflict with e-learning. You can blend together classroom and e-learning.
20. How will Your Employees Respond to e-Learning? E-learning feels different from traditional face-to-face learning experiences. Unfamiliarity –some students will find it difficult to adjust to the new learning situation. Lack of self-motivation –for some people it is hard to stay motivated while they’re learning away from a classroom. Lack of time – one can’t take e-learning course and work. Some companies might expect their employees to take the courses before or after work. Feeling of isolation – students can feel isolated without immediate presence of the teacher and other students. Feeling of going against company culture --"Let me interrupt you for just a few minutes about an urgent work problem," says the manager while the employee is trying to take an e-learning course at her desk.
21. How does Student Motivation Affect E-Learning? Many people are accustomed to learning only in traditional classroom environments and find it hard to learn “on their own.” Some key student motivations include: The course teaches something that is critical to doing the immediate job. The student is working toward a certification or a degree. The student is required by management to prove that they completed a course.
22. How will Instructors Respond to E-Learning? Teaching an e-learning course is harder than teaching a classroom course. You should take into consideration the following global considerations Language –students from different countries speak different languages. You have two choices – translate your course or adapt it for the foreign students. Time zone -- when it’s 8AM in New York, it’s 9PM in Tokyo. The solution is to emphasize some asynchronous communication: bulletin board messages, e-mail, etc. Cultural differences – for example, humor.
23. What are the Basic Styles for E-Learning? There are 3 basic styles for e-learning depending on how the learning event is scheduled and how interaction with other people occur: Synchronous learning Self-directed learning Asynchronous learning Synchronous learning Self-directed learning Asynchronous learning
24. What is a blended course? Learning events that combine aspects of online and face-to-face instruction. Students will spend half the time in a traditional classroom. The other half of the time students will be outside of the classroom using a computer to participate in online learning activities, assignments, discussion and email, and assessments. E-Learning Examples View e-learning examples here
25. Summary E-learning is learning that uses computer technology, usually via the Internet. E-learning enables employees to learn at their work/home computer without traveling to a classroom. E-learning can be a scheduled session with an instructor or it can be an on-demand course. Employees can learn without traveling to class—you can save on travel costs. Employees can learn at their convenience. Employees can learn based on their learning styles. Research shows that e-learning works as well as classroom learning. It is safe to say that in 5-10 years all companies are good candidates for using e-learning. You could spend hundreds, or you could spend multimillions.
26. Summary The cost components for e-learning include the courseware, the course delivery expenses (including instructors), marketing/promotional communications with the students, administration and support expenses. The size and complexity of your training problem influencing your e-learning costs. You can’t avoid risk, but ROI lets you predict the risk. An e-learning success has to be thought in business terms, not training terms. Barriers in implementing e-learning in you company might include people’s resistance to any kind of change, new technology, and budget constrains. You management should keep realistic expectations, provide leadership and support. Using leading-edge technology is important but not critical. If your e-learning has global reach, you should consider: language, time zones, and Cultural differences (for example, humor).
27. References Henderson A. J. (2003). The E-learning Question and Answer Book. New York, NY: American Management Association. The Sloan Consortium, Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010.
28. Module 1: Assignment Create your own fictitious company. Give me a brief description of your company (1 page). For example: [your position] I am a CEO. [your company’s name] The Electronic Widgets, Inc. [your company’s brief description] It is a multinational company that sells high-tech widgets in other high tech products. [employees] I have 800 salespeople in 20 countries. The Blue Widget 1000 has been our main product line for the last year-and-a-half. [Why do you need to develop online course for your company? Give me a problem description] We’ve developed a new product line--Red Widget 1100 which has new underlying technology, faster speed, and more competitive price/performance ratio. I have to teach my salespeople about the new Red Widget 1100 product characteristics—features, functions, and fees. [course title] Create your e-learning course title
