E-Learning Community 2.0

Today I’m going to explain some basic concepts about eLearning to help new users comprehend the subject prior to using the eLearning Community.

Basically, eLearning can be defined as follow:

• eLearning is learning at a distance that uses computer technology (usually the Internet).
• eLearning enables knowledge seekers to learn at their own computers without traveling to a classroom.
• eLearning can be a scheduled live coaching session with a knowledge provider and other knowledge seekers, or it can be an eCourse that the knowledge seeker can take for self-directed learning at a time when it’s convenient (known as learn-on-demand).

eLearning lets knowledge seekers learn at a distance, over the Internet. For example, salespersons can get real-time training on new products without traveling to class. IT specialists can remain at their work stations while they take courses they need to pass their certification exams. And housewives can pick-up new cooking skills while sitting on their computer at home.

eLearning enables knowledge seekers to learn at any time and any place. All they need is a computer, an Internet connection, and access to the course materials that reside on a learning platform such as the eLearning Community portal at www.eLearningCommunity.com .

Let’s look at an example of what eLearning can mean to a project manager working at a company that is using eLearning in a big way:

First thing in the morning, even before starting the day’s work, Bill starts his laptop computer and connects to the company’s eLearning website in order to complete the next lesson of the project-management certification course. Bill is a new project manager, and he expects to take the certification exam before the end of the year. As soon as he thinks he’s ready, he’ll take the certification exam online as well.

Later in the day, Bill will connect over the Internet to a live “product-update training” session that was held quarterly for all product salespersons and support staff in his group. The product training session is a virtual event where hundreds of employees around the world learn about the latest product updates, see a quick product demo, and interact with the product experts via “instant messaging” and “simulation” features.

At the end of the day, Bill’s manager will ask him to think about working on some new projects for the company’s newly formed nanotechnology on the company’s intranet. Each “bite-size tutorial” take about ten minutes and gives Bill some basic understanding about the key technical and business issues surrounding nanotechnology – so that he will be able to understand enough to accept the new project work has was offered.

You can see from this scenario above, knowledge seekers at their work computer can:

1. Take training courses for skill certification; these courses can be taken at the employees’ convenience in bite-size pieces over weeks or months. This was the project management certification course in the example.
2. Participate in regularly schedules “live-update” training on products, processes, or other topics that are important to the business. This was the product-update training in the example.
3. Take on-demand, self-directed training for short topics important to your business.

Depending on the topic being taught, eLearning can be instructor-led by a knowledge provider or self-directed (without instructor). Some eLearning is designed to be completed at scheduled times, and other kinds of eLearning are completely unscheduled: Knowledge seekers can take the course at their convenience.

While eLearning comes in a variety of styles and sizes, all of the eLearning varieties share the goal of getting knowledge and skills training to knowledge seekers more quickly, more effectively, and often at a lower cost.