E-learning
Contents
Definition
An abbreviation of electronic learning, which uses IT systems to conduct education or training as well as to manage those related activities
Purpose ans benefit
If there is a large number of students/trainees, the relatively high cost of e-learning can be justified. The flexibility of e-learning is well suited to allowing the participants to complete the education/training at their own pace. Also, a ‘test-out’ feature can allow the participants who already understand the material to complete a pre-test, and if successful to avoid spending time on topics in which they are already competent.
Description
E-learning - or electronic learning - includes numerous types of media that deliver text, audio, images, animation, and streaming video. Several technological realization can be used as well: audio or video tape, satellite TV, CD-ROM, local intranet or Internet. E-learning can occur in or out of the classroom, and can be performed at the learner's own pace - asynchronously - or instructor-led, synchronously.
E-learning methods can be used as well in education as in training processes. A common application of e-learning in the nuclear industry is the refresher training of the employees. The e-learning uses electronic media not only to store the textbooks and the learning materials, but also uses the electronic media for some (if not all) assessment of the trainees/students. Because the major part is in electronic form, it can be followed from distance - therefore it is an important form of the distance learning. The interaction between the teacher/trainer and the students/trainees also occurs via electronic communication forms: e-mail, messengers, skype etc. In this form of education/training physical presence of the students/trainees is needed only when hands-on, practical measurements/laboratory works have to be performed.
Variations
Several similar expressions are used in the literature, which are variations of e-learning, but have slightly different meaning:
- m-learning (mobile learning) - emphasizes the learning by mobile devices (tablets, mobile phones etc.), but the principe is the same as for the e-learning.
- distance learning - this is a broader (and older) term than e-learning, but e-learning is its most common form recently.
- cyber learning - a synonyme of e-learning.
- computer aided learning - does not occur necessarily in distance, but electronic devices (computers) are used. For example the nuclear industry uses several computer simulation software in the education and training of the personnel, and some of them are licensed only in the education/training institute. Computer aided learning differs from e-learning because beside the computer it uses also conventional learning means like classroom lectures, laboratory practices etc.
Implementation guidance
The main components of an e-learning course are the following:
- A quite powerful hardware to serve the incoming requests of the possibly large number of participants
- Well prepared textbooks and practice guides, with appropriate help functions and cross-links
- In some cases recorded videos of lectures and/or experiments which can be downloaded and see by the participants
- In some e-learning courses live webcasts are also included, with some possibility of students' interaction
- Suitable software to assess the performance of the participants
- Tutors who are available for e-mails, chat at specific times of the day and who assess the progress of the participants at regular intervals
Success factors
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Common pitfalls
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