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One of the most innovative creations in the field of education during the past two decades is the e-Learning. Over the past years, many schools and business have embraced this mode of learning because of the benefits it brings to the organization. Many training are now converted to this type of learning and this includes IT courses, medical coding training courses, language training courses, exercise trainings and a lot more.

What is e-Learning

This definition is taken from Wikipedia:

E-learning (or sometimes electronic learning or eLearning) is a term which is commonly used, but does not have a common definition. Most frequently it seems to be used for web-based distance education, with no face-to-face interaction. However, also much broader definitions are common. For example, it may include all types of technology enhanced learning (TEL), where technology is used to support the learning process. Although pedagogy is usually not part of the definition, some authors do include it. For example in this definition, where e-learning is said to be: “pedagogy empowered by digital technology”. It is important to realize that the term e-learning is ambiguous. It is nearly impossible to define what it is, as it has different meanings to different people. Furthermore, it is often used interchangeably with various other related terms, such as distance learning, distributed learning, and electronic learning. The meaning of the term also seems to be dependent on the context in which it is used. In companies, it often refers to the strategies that use the company network to deliver training courses to employees. Lately in most Universities, e-learning is used to define a specific mode to attend a course or programmes of study where the students rarely or never meet face-to-face, nor access on-campus educational facilities, because they study online.

In short, e-learning is a method of education through the use of computers or digital media. These e-learning development tools can be in the form of a CD/DVD training course, an electronic book with corresponding audio or video materials, or a website online that offers interactive teaching.

Recommendations for Implementing e-Learning

E-learning basically requires a good computer system in order to operate well. This depends on the requirements of the corresponding training materials. A CD or DVD instructional or training video or software generally requires a typical computer set, as long as the computer system fits the system requirements of the e-learning software. Online e-learning courses need a different set of items. The main requirement usually is a reliable internet connection to support the communication between the client computer and the server.

Advantages and Disadvantages of e-Learning

Most universities and companies have implemented this method of training. Companies for example require new employees to undergo a series of trainings in their e-learning systems as a requirement for on-boarding. This usually standardizes the training across all employees. Another good thing about e-learning is the mode of presentation. Usually, e-learning tools have graphical and artistic presentation, coupled with nice audio effects. This makes the learning more enjoyable and makes it easier to understand.

One major disadvantage of e-learning is the lack of interpersonal interaction. Since this method is not the typical classroom-type of training, the question-and-answer structure is not present. This is because the training is based on a fixed set of information.