What is e learning?

A learning system based on the concept of formalized teaching but mainly with the help of

electronic resources is known as what we call as E-learning. While teaching can be based in or

out of the classrooms, the use of digital gadgets like computers and the Internet forms the major

component of E-learning. E-learning can also be termed as what is known as a network enabled

transfer of skills and knowledge, and the delivery of education which is made to a large number

of recipients at the same or different times as well. Earlier in the times, it was not accepted

wholeheartedly as it was assumed that this system mainly had lacked the human element

required in learning. The concept of E-learning has proved over the passage of time to be the best

means in the corporate sector, especially when training programs are conducted by MNCs for

professionals across the globe and employees are able to acquire important skills while sitting in

a board room, or by having seminars, which are conducted for employees of the same or the

different organizations under one roof. The schools which use E-learning technologies are a step

ahead of those which still have the traditional approach towards learning (The Economic Times,

2022).

If we observe the type of E-learning today, we likely consider it a learning object. Starting in the

domain of CBT frameworks, learning objects were portrayed as resembling the various Lego

blocks or particles, small amounts of various content that could be assembled or coordinated.

Guidelines frameworks have since then further refined the idea of learning material into a

thorough structure and have given details on the most capable method to grouping and sort out

these pieces of content into courses and bundle them for training like they were books or

instructional pamphlets.

Why is E learning important?

even well before that (in the form of distance learning and onscreen courses). Now that

affordable e-learning solutions exist for both computers and internet, it only takes a good e-

learning tool for education to be facilitated from virtually anywhere. Technology has advanced

so much that the geographical gap is bridged with the use of tools that make you feel as if you

are inside the classroom. E-learning offers the ability to share all kinds of material in all kinds of

formats such as videos, slideshows, word documents, and PDFs. Conducting webinars (live

online classes) and communicating with professors via chat and message forums is also an option

available to the users (Talent LMS, 2022).

The impact of the fast evolving technological world on ways which learning is delivered is huge.

Today, many institutions of higher learning are offering off-premise schooling since it has many

and multiple advantages over on-campus learning. One of the major reasons for this is the fact of

space. Through help of e-learning, schools can accommodate as many students as they wish for

or that they may need, they can also do the same for the courses offered, since factors like

accommodation space and classroom space are no longer limiting factors. Besides that these are

also a few reasons that makes E learning important (Simplilearn, 2021).

Flexibility in learning

E-learning is known to be very flexible as its learners can access the material at any time they

want. Students who reside at places which are usually distant to the physical classrooms or those

who do not have the time or the ability to be with the instructor, have the biggest luxury of

choosing a time of their convenience, to go through school coursework.

There are thousands of known school course-works, online degrees and certifications being

offered online, today to millions of users across the globe. E-Learning does not limit students’

access to fields of study that traditional face-to-face mode of learning did in its own time. It is

now possible for a student in one continent to access and complete the entire course work that is

not offered in their school, but rather in a school that is located in a different continent. That is

the power of E-learning and its impact and importance.

It allows for cost effectiveness

E-learning ultimately tends to alleviates the need for the students and instructors to be located in

a central place for learning to take place and for education to be completed. This saves money

that could otherwise so be spent on travelling, accommodation and other uses that school-based

learners cannot escape from no matter how much they want to. Time that would be spent

commuting to the learning class could be used for other duties too allowing more productivity.

Better level of participation and individual instruction ability

Students who use E learning are freer to interact with online tutors as opposed to that of a

physical classroom meeting. This in the end helps students to understand different concepts they

are getting skilled on better. The instructor can hence offer complete level of attention, for a

longer time, to a single student online, which is quite difficult in a conventional classroom

framework.

It allows a level of consistency in course delivered

online tutoring, teachers who teach in a physical classroom present information to students in

multiple different ways, every day. This results in the overall differences in the input that the

learner shall then be receiving – it may be qualitative on some occasions and not so effective at

other times as well. However, e-learning is known to be like a previously taped performance

which is delivered without varying every time and this hence provides a constant consistency in

coursework.

There are flexible timetables

In a school-based learning system, timetables are known to be rigid. In a two-hour-class for

example, students will have to sit through the whole class. In e-learning, the students have the

luxury of pausing halfway through the tutorial from which they have to learn and resume at a

later time, or date.

Although e-learning is most widely used for school, it has found a variety of uses in the

corporate world as well. Firms are increasingly turning to e-learning, to train their staff in skills

that they may lack or need to enhance. This not only helps the firms to educate their staff while

cutting costs, but also helps save on time.

In a fast-pacing, technology-oriented world of today, people are adopting technology and finding

new ways to integrate it in support of education. E-learning is leading the way, redefining ways

in which knowledge is acquired.

  Fixed eLearning

Fixed eLearning is one of the older versions of online learning. It refers to a learning process that

uses a typically traditional structure of passing down information to students. All learners receive

the same type of information as determined by the instructors. Since the learning materials rely

on the instructors, fixed eLearning is rigid and does not adapt to the students’ preferences.

Adaptive eLearning

Adaptive eLearning is another type of online learning. Unlike the first outlet, adaptive eLearning

has the learner’s flexibility as its focal point. Here, all learning materials are designed to fit the

student’s learning preferences. This pays attention to aspects such as skills, abilities, and

individual performance.

Asynchronous eLearning

In asynchronous eLearning, students study independently from different locations. Here, learners

can study on their own time, depending on their schedule. If done in an engaging way, this could

include user generated content. For example, instead of multiple choice exams, learners could

submit video of themselves proving their newly-learned skills

 Interactive eLearning

In interactive eLearning, both teachers and students can communicate freely, allowing both

parties to make changes to the learning materials as they see fit. An open line of communication
also allows for better interaction, resulting in a better learning process should any queries arise.

Individual eLearning

Individual eLearning is all about students learning on their own without any peer

communication.

Collaborative eLearning

Collaborative eLearning focuses on teamwork, allowing students to work together. Learning

materials and goals rely on combined effort from all students for completion of the course. If you

prefer this type of learning, you have to factor in your strengths and weaknesses, as well as that

of your peers.

What e Learning does for organizations

E-learning allows organizations to deliver training consistently to all of its employees; to update

the level of training content when necessary; to reduce multiple travel costs to outside training

facilities; and to provide training to employees on demand of any skill or feature, anytime, and

anywhere (Derouin, et al., 2005).

E-learning helps to increase the level of successful organizational results through enhanced

employee education and training. Online learning is also therefore proven to increase knowledge

retention by 25-60%. The higher retention rate of education by employees therefore ensures

better results in the overall production of the organization. In addition to this fact E-learning

classes are generally 25-60% shorter in duration than traditional classes that hre held physically.

This means that organizations can teach employees more information in a shorter amount of time

(Molly Fletcher, 2022). 

class training for both new hires and current employees. Leading organizations are stepping

away from old school learning strategies that don’t take full advantage of learning effectiveness,

and instead adopting eLearning into their training process. The reason is that customized E

learning solutions enable organizations to proactively and professionally equip employees with

specialized knowledge and expertise to perform at their best. Additionally, leveraging a digital

learning approach allows management to gain insights on their organization by measuring their

staff’s knowledge and productivity. Companies combine their content onto a platform to train

staff dependably. Online learning is easily accessible and completed at the individual level. E

learning training methods give organizations confidence that their staff, whether in the same

department, or in a different office internationally, are receiving the same level of training that

traditional methods, such as seminars, do not provide usually. E learning solutions are consistent

amongst all users (Boyle, 2015). . Some of the most common business and soft skills to be taught

by organizations via e-learning in organizations include management, leadership,

communication, customer service, quality management, and human resources skills (Derouin, et

al., 2005).

Any organization that plans to grow or improve its operations benefits greatly from e-learning.

According to a study that surveyed 600 companies, 72% of them expressed that learning

technology such as e-learning, mobile learning and similar helped their business adapt more

quickly to the change that occurred overall (McVicker, 2020).

Organizations use e learning more and more on the daily with the current shift in trends of

digitalization and to meet the needs of their expansions as well. Therefore, it is essential now a

day for organizations to incorporate E learning in their platforms as well.

Shell is an oil and gas giant and a British company that has almost overall 92,000 employees

spread across 70 countries. It has over time, developed its online eLearning platform called the

Shell Open University. Every employee belonging to Shell has full access to the learning

materials on the platform that include video lectures, e-books, webcasts, and technical guides. 

Employees can therefore learn about the technical as well as commercial type of subjects,

evaluating their capabilities as they complete the programs. Shell also reimburses any extra time

or money spent in L&D which is not catered to sufficiently by their own corporate curriculum as

well. This has resulted in and helped Shell improve the performance of its employees from all

around the world (Keegan, 2021).

Conclusion

E learning has many valuable benefits that one can utilize well enough if they know how to. It

can help not only organizations across the globe but also students in multiple different ways. One

can say that it is safe to state E learning is the future of learning and perhaps one day it might

overcome and outshine the traditional teaching methods entirely on its own.

References

Boyle, M., 2015. 5 Reasons Why Elearning is Beneficial for Organizations. [Online]

Available at: https://learnkit.com/2015/07/02/5-reasons-why-elearning-is-beneficial-for-

[Accessed 11 May 2022].

Derouin, R. E., Frtizsche, B. & Salas, E., 2005. E-Learning in Organizations. Journal of

Management, 31(6).

Holmes, J., 2020. A Guide to The Different Types of eLearning. [Online]

Available at: https://www.knowledgeanywhere.com/resources/article-detail/a-guide-to-the-

different-types-of-elearning

[Accessed 10 May 2022].

Keegan, L., 2021. How To Find An Employer That Values Learning | 59+ Companies Using

ELearning Providers. [Online]

Available at: https://skillscouter.com/companies-using-elearning/

[Accessed 11 May 2022].

McVicker, D., 2020. 5 reasons to implement elearning in your organization. [Online]

Available at: https://blog.vingapp.com/5-reasons-to-implement-elearning-in-your-organization

[Accessed 11 May 2022].

Molly Fletcher, 2022. 3 Reasons to Implement E-Learning in Your Organization. [Online]

Available at: https://mollyfletcher.com/3-reasons-to-implement-e-learning-in-your-organization/

[Accessed 11 May 2022].

Simplilearn, 2021. Why E-Learning: Insights into the World of Online Learning and

Development. [Online]

Available at: https://www.simplilearn.com/why-e-learning-article#advantages_of_elearning

[Accessed 10 May 2022].

Available at: https://www.talentlms.com/elearning/what-is-elearning

[Accessed 10 May 2022].

The Economic Times, 2022. What is 'E-learning': The Economic Times. [Online]

Available at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/e-learning

[Accessed 10 May 2022].