The Hindu Business Line : The A-B-C-D of E-learning

Log on to learn: Corporate India is considered a lucrative market for e-learning, since this form of tutoring is increasingly being viewed as a viable alternative to the more expensive, traditional training programmes on offer.

Gayatri Krishnamurthy

If you look around today, we have e-everything. E-commerce, e-banking and e-toys, among many others. E-learning lurks somewhere in the background.

What is e-learning? The concept is definitely not an elusive one like the e-boiling promised by a popular brand of water purifier. Looking up Wikipedia and learning about something is simply gathering of information online, and would not qualify as e- learning.

Initially, e-learning started out as Computer Based Training or CBT. It was first delivered through floppy discs and then through CD-ROMS. They did not have any instructor interaction or dynamic presentations, which made it less interesting and engaging. This form is still in use by students preparing for different types of examinations.

With advances in software, and better connectivity, some simple (text-based) interactions have become possible. More recent technological innovations like live Web casts have revolutionised e-learning, and has made it possible for live interaction and real-time mentoring.

Current scenario

From my interactions with managers across industries and fields, it is clear that corporate India is one of the most lucrative markets for e-learning. In order to survive in a competitive environment and to retain their skilled employees, most of the large corporate houses spend significant sums on traditional training programmes and e-learning is emerging as a viable alternative solution.

IT & ITeS companies are the most enthusiastic in embracing e-learning. Apart from these companies, the demand for e-learning is also growing quickly in sectors such as manufacturing and services. Many have developed either 100 per cent in-house, or in association with premier educational institutions. It has been found that even the older employees in more traditional industries are eager to explore this medium of learning.

advantages of e-learning:

There are many overseas institutions offering courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels which are completely online. In a survey conducted for one such institution, the participants who were involved in corporate training pointed out the pros and cons of e-learning.

The benefits are:

There is a lot of flexibility in terms of time. It allows you to earn while you earn elsewhere. Being truly self-paced is a unique advantage of e-learning. You can complete a normal two-year course in a year or take three years.

The entry barriers are low because the capacities of e-learning programmes are very flexible. The value of individual e-learning modules, however, has to be judged on merit.

It is more economical than a full-time course. Even if one does not have access to the Internet at home, most people could use a conveniently located cyber-café .

It can potentially expose you to a wider set of people than was possible in the more traditional set-up.

The drawbacks are:

There is a lack of human touch in terms of face-to-face interaction, immediate guidance and clarification.

A sense of community learning can be a great boost to a learner, and this is not nearly as well developed in e-learning as in traditional classroom settings.

Internet connectivity remains a big problem in India. The bandwidth required for uninterrupted delivery of a reasonable quality of education on a mass scale is simply not available.

All participants may not be self-disciplined and serious. In classroom study, participants can be better regulated through rules and regulations.

There are several fields where hands-on training is an integral part of the course, e-learning simply cannot provide this.

In fields such as the physical sciences and medicine, the most important parts of the courses cannot be replicated virtually.

Security issues are a major concern in the corporate sector, especially in the IT / ITeS sector

Emerging scenario

The people involved in structuring the learning process, who go under various titles such as Competence Development Managers and Training Managers, are formulating strategies for e-learning. With broadband actually increasing its breadth, e-learning should soon become as common and feasible as e-mail.

The classroom, which is constantly undergoing a makeover, is all set to go virtual.

Friendly warning

E-learning should be considered an Internet business service that contracts time and distance. Technology is to be used for what it is – a tool, and has to fit into one’s business needs and vision. If you have watched movies or television, you will know that the cinematography, editing, sound and special effects have all advanced beyond one’s imagination. However, enjoyment still depends on the story and the script. Similarly, no matter what the method of delivery, content remains the key to good learning.

(The writer, an alumnus of XLRI, is a freelance HR consultant and trainer.)

More Stories on : Education | Human Resources | Internet

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Working with Americans

The A-B-C-D of E-learning

Back to school

‘Needed, a new metric called peoplequity’

Execute with a clear vision, sound strategy

Bad attitude is sour milk