Give e-learning a second chance
E-learning has been disparaged for not living up to the hype. Martin Addison writes in The Guardian Public about recent advances in technology and how it could be time for a rethink.
In the last recession, e-learning was heralded as a panacea that would provide the blueprint for future learning. We were told no one would ever train in a classroom again.
It's easy to see why the public sector was seduced by the concept of e-learning. Not only did it fit well with the drive towards e-government, it promised that people could learn at their own time and pace, on a one-to-one basis, as and when needed.
Many e-learning courses were dull or long-winded. There were problems with bandwidth and also with culture. Not everyone wanted to learn in isolation by following a structured pathway. People missed the social aspect of learning.
So what's changed?
For one thing, technology can now provide those social contacts and contexts that can make learning more effective. Webinars, virtual classrooms and online tutors can make learning less of a lonely experience - and with the rise of Twitter and social media networks, people are more used to collaborating online.
The advent of 'streaming video', popularised by the likes of YouTube and BBC iPlayer, has evolved the integration of video in learning.
Far-sighted organisations are now piecing together video clips with blogs, podcasts and performance support tools to create tailored learning resources. Just as you create your own playlist on your iPod, you can now create your own learning in the same way.
As a result, e-learning now means a differentiated, personalised learning experience, with richer learning content that has humour, personality and context.
New role for learning
E-learning is now a combination of self-study, online resources, community/group projects, interaction with an instructor, assessment and finally, transfer.
Learning and Development teams need to get the 'magic in the mix' by identifying which different components will make the optimal blend. Instead of providing learning at specific times, their role is to help individuals make the best of the learning that's available and to access it on-demand.
E-learning has become a vastly different proposition. Will the public sector give it a second chance?
