Elearning is a general term relating to trainings delivered through a single computer, with the use of devices like CDROMs, mobile phones, digital television, Internet and wide area networks. Elearning is also considered as an effective and efficient system of self-paced personal training. It's available via the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whenever you have the time and interest. The requirements are a computer with an Internet or broadband connection, running Windows and Internet Explorer Web browser. An elearning course is divided into 9 or 10 lessons. Each lesson is divided into 3-6 topics that may have a demo and a 30-45 minute hands-on lab. A topic is in turn divided into 3-5 units. It starts with an overview and ends with a summary and self-check. Each average unit may take 10 to 15 minutes. You can skip the topics you already know or those that consume too much time. But you can always go back. The first elearning courses were Windows Server 2003: Taking Advantage of 64-Bit Computing, and Windows Server 2003: Taking Advantage of Enhanced Technologies. Today, the Internet offers a select set of academic degree courses ranging from associate's degrees, doctoral programs, business administration, criminal Justice, nursing, and Masters Degrees in Spiritual Formation, Christian Education, and Pastoral Ministry. Technological advances offer more collaborative learning opportunities. You can take synchronous elearning, a web-based training where you and your instructor can participate in the course and interact with other participants at multiple locations at the same time, using LCD projectors and conference telephones. Examples are chat sessions and virtual web conferences. Or you may choose an asynchronous elearning, where you and others are involved in the course at different times. The activities here use wikis, blogs and electronic bulletin boards, where topics or questions are posted to a website or sent through emails and all can respond. This type allows you to access training materials anytime even when others are not present. |
