What is e-learning?
Turning Traditional Learning into e-Learning
There are a variety of definitions of what e-learning is but it is basically
“the use of electronic technology to support, enhance or deliver learning”
(e-learning Strategy for Wales)
When e-learning is mentioned there are number of misconceptions that are often bandied about. Some come from the anti-camp, those who are wary of the idea, and some come from the pro-camp, the most guilty here are generally those trying to sell you the latest e-learning ‘solution’. Such misconceptions include ideas that e-learning -
One key concept of e-learning that often gets missed is that it is about learning and not technology, with some e-learning being more a technology looking for a use rather than having any real educational value. And what is technology anyway? Is it “just what’s been invented in your lifetime” or it is “the stuff that doesn’t work properly yet”?
In reality, as noted e-learning expert Gilly Salmon says, e-learning “has almost nothing to do with computers and everything to do with time, motivation, knowledge…. as well as good, appropriate teaching.” E-learning is just another selection of tools in the teaching toolkit. Its success or otherwise depends on how those tools are used. How their use is planned, implemented and evaluated.