About e-Learning Introduction:

The learning process needs techniques and tools to present the knowledge (from different resources),interact with it and share it with others.In the context,eLearning is becoming an important tool to support the learning system to achieve its goals.e-Learning became hot topic in the 1990 s after the spread of the Internet.

E-learning ,like many terms in cyber space,does not have current definition which can be accepted by all.Some terms which are frequently interchanged with e-learning includes: y y y y y Online learning/ education Distance education/ learning Technology based training Web-based learning/training Computer-based training/learning from a CD-ROM

How does e-learning work?

e-Learning fits into two categories: synchronous and asynchronous.

Synchronous e-learning imitates a classroom, and this means that classes take place in real-time and connect trainers with students via streaming audio, video or through a chat room. Asynchronous e-learning lets a student access pre-defined and packaged training courses on his

own or company time, at his own pace and communicating with the trainer or other students through e-mail or a message board etc. Training course content is generally broken down into:
y y y y

Training Modules (courses) Sections Screens Content objects - these can be text, images, video, audio files, interactive presentations, quizzes, formal assessments

E-Learning, a Definition
When the World Wide Web was launched in 1991, there was a surge of interest in the possibilities of electronic learning (or e-learning). e-Learning is a term that means something different to almost everyone who uses it. Some use the term to refer to packaged content pieces and others to technical infrastructures. E-learning intersects numerous fields of thought and practice, and cannot be trivialized into a simple formula for success. As Figure 1.1 suggests, writings on the theory of e-learning encompass an array of academic perspectives: training and education, learning and knowledge, technology and the investigation of individual market segments. In this new industry, key concepts and understandings are still emerging.

Figure 1.1 Merging language and fields of study

Training

Education

Information

Technology

Variou Types or modalities of e-learning activity are represented in Table 1.

Table 1. E-Learning modalities

Individualized self-paced E-learning online Group-based

Individualized self-paced E-learning offline

Group-based E-learning synchronously

Group-based E-learning asynchronously

ISSUES
There are several issues that need to be considered to decide when and how to integrate standards into e-learning content.

Project Product Workflow Identification Applications

History of e-learning:

The history of e-learning and starts with an understanding of how instructional design,instructional technology,and educational technology evolved in the last century.This also includes having a basic understanding of distance educational history of e-learning.

Current status of e-learning:

Brandon Hall, in a recent newsletter (dated 16 September 2003) summarized recent trends in self-paced elearning design as including: "In this challenging economy, organizations are cutting back on some of the more costly components of e-learning, including rich media. When rich media are used, however, most implementations are highly professional and supportive of learning. There appears to be an emerging feeling that more can be done with less, that excellent design and a sharp focus on real performance problems are what it's all about. The use of story and narrative to support simulation and other types of e-learning is taking hold. Some designers are becoming masters in the use of story to engage learners and promote challenging educational goals. Uses of online human agents are varied and creative. The result is e-learning which personalizes sometimes dry technical content and maintains learner motivation. The previous focus on IT e-learning shows signs of lessening. World-class designers are now using online learning in remarkable ways to meet tough learning challenges in an ever-widening range of human skill areas. Award-winning e-learning is increasingly being developed for innovative organizations in the nonprofit sector, an "industry" in which e-learning has terrific potential."

The Future Growth of E-learning:

By virtually every measure, electronic learning is experiencing unprecedented growth and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. A new analysis and forecast released this month by research firm Ambient Insight bolstered previous research in this area, showing that electronic learning, by dollar volume, reached $27.1 billion in 2009 and predicting this figure will nearly double that by 2014, with academic institutions leading the way. According to the report, "The Worldwide Market for Self-paced eLearning Products and Services: 20092014 Forecast and Analysis," by 2014, e-learning will reach a dollar volume of $49.6 billion, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8 percent over five years. The dollar figures in the research included expenditures in five categories of electronic learning technologies, or "self-paced elearning products." These included: packaged content, custom content development services, learning platform and tool hosting services, authoring software and tools, and installed learning platforms.

Impact of e-learning
The key informants responses to questions regarding the impact of e-learning on participation, attainment, progression or retention in FE, are summarized below: _ Most were positive about the likely impact of e-learning on participation in education and training. E-learning could impact upon participation by creating a sense of engagement, excitement and involvement. _Although e-learning was perceived to have an impact on attainment, determining its contribution to attainment was difficult as it was only one aspect of learning and its effects did not operate in isolation from other factors that might influence and enhance attainment.

Using this basic model we can set a clear learning path that has a constant review process. When you reach the top step you start the whole process again.

E-Learnings Significant Impact on the Business World Today

E-Learning is a significant factor in improving the business workforce which companies have to pay closer attention. The dominance of the computer age and the advancement of the internet have provided new ways in edging in this competitive world of business industry.

E-learning has the potential to improve and even revolutionize teaching and learning:
The overwhelming view of respondents of the OECD/CERI survey was that e-learning had a broadly positive pedagogic impact. However, few were able to offer detailed internal research evidence to this effect. Indirect evidence, including student satisfaction surveys and retention/attainment data, were widespread but these data may not be compelling enough to convince the bulk of sceptical students and academics of the pedagogic value of online learning.

The E-learning:Advantage and Disadvantage

In this section,we state some advantage and disadvantage to the learner,tutor and organization of Elearning:

Advantages :
Major advantages of E-learning are as follows:

Flexibility, Accessibility, Convenience Cross-platform Support Browsers and Internet Connections are Widely Available Inexpensive Worldwide Distribution Ease of Updates Savings in Travel Cost and Time

Disadvantages:
There are some disadvantages or limitation as well.  It requires technology infrastructure which may be not be available in some countries.  Increase costs for intial development,because the greater portion of the costs associated are startup costs.  Some students might get lost or confused about learning activities.  Some students might feel lonely and isolated from their instructor and classmates.  Not all courses can be delivered online,while some others courses require a more personal touch so it is not delivered well by the computer.  Some times the instructor is not available when the students need his help(in real time mode).  It requires computer skills and some times files and software management of online learning,which could be complex for beginner students.  Some work labs are difficult to simulate in a virtual classroom.  Lack of human contact or face-to-face interaction with the instructor and other classmates. Some students may fail due to bad study habits or low motivation.

Conclusion

Successful preparation for online learning is not significantly different from classroom preparation. As with any new concept, however, it is important for an instructor to communicate how existing practices integrate with a new concept (in this case, learning online). High dropout rates are not a function of the online learning environment - they are a function of poor course design, lack of instructor familiarity of the environment, and learner preparation. Preparing learners to learn online is perhaps the greatest skill that we can offer. In an era of "lifelong learning", skills for acquiring knowledge play a greater role in success than do knowledge concepts (as they often cycle to obsolescence).