Learning
What we’ve learned about eLearning
eLearning has been around for decades, but it’s still mistrusted by many. Here’s what we’ve learned over years of doing it!
It has to be interactive
What we mean is – there has to be some two–way communication between the learner and the system. If it’s just a dressed–up powerpoint set, with a quiz at the end, people may as well read a book. Or just be given the original powerpoint file!
It should be learner–focused
Not only should you be able to do it when you choose, but to some extent you should have choice in the bits you do, in what order, and so on.
It’s useful for some things and very bad for others
eLearning is not very useful for the learning of practical skills, apart from those that are themselves IT–based (such as learning how to use MS Word, or something like that). It is best for imparting knowledge – about company processes, bits of background theory, and so on.
It’s best when combined with other interventions
Sometimes called ‘blended learning’, if eLearning can be combined with tutorials, short workshops, or refreshed by communication with other learners, it works well.