What Is Elearning? Definition, Examples, And Ultimate QuickStart Guide In 2022

This article on “What Is Elearning” will provide you with the opportunity to read an in-depth evaluation of Elearning, including information on how the lessons are presented, who the course is best suited for, the cost, and Overall Conclusion, etc.

Anyone who has used eLearning before will tell you how beneficial and convenient it has been. Electronic learning has several advantages in today’s “always-on” society. In other words, what is eLearning in the first place?

There’s no denying the rise in popularity of electronic learning over the last decade, whether you’re an expert or a novice. It’s a cost-effective and time-efficient approach for firms to train new personnel.

Employees, on the other hand, gain access to on-the-job training that helps them improve their skills and expertise.

In addition, corporations utilize it to train their partners and customers in an effort to boost adoption and retention, which in turn leads to an increase in income.

The market for eLearning solutions is predicted to grow to $275 billion by 2022, with no indications of slowing down.

In this article, we’ll explore the various types of eLearning and technologies available, as well as the advantages they provide your business.

What Is eLearning?

As a first step, let’s define the term “eLearning.” In other words, what exactly is eLearning? In eLearning, digital resources are used to deliver education and training.

Electronic devices such as PCs, tablets, and even cell phones can be used for eLearning because they are all connected to the internet.

Because of this, users can study whenever and wherever they want, with very few if any limitations.

For the most part, eLearning refers to online training, learning, or education that is given through computers or other digital devices.

The History Of eLearning

It’s useful to look back at the history of eLearning to better appreciate how it serves organizations now. It was in 1999 that Elliott Maisie first used the word “eLearning” in a professional context.

As time has passed, eLearning’s reputation has only grown more solid. When it comes to delivering training, eLearning has quickly become the most preferred method. The following are a few of these elements:

• The Internet – People used to rely on printed manuals, CD-ROMs, and other limited ways of learning and training before the internet came along. The rise of the internet allowed corporations to reject one-dimensional techniques and use the flexibility of eLearning instead.
• Development Of Multimedia – E-ability learning to incorporate visual, audio, and graphic aspects has proven to be more effective at retaining students’ attention than more traditional methods.
• Affordable Digital Devices – It’s hardly surprising that as digital devices got more accessible, eLearning’s popularity grew. The first IBM computer cost the equivalent of approximately $5000 in today’s dollars. The development of eLearning has also been greatly aided by mobile learning.
• Well-Built Learning Management Systems – Organizations increasingly use LMSs to carry out a variety of training activities, transitioning from locally installed to cloud-based systems. At the very least, make sure that the LMS you choose provides the features and assistance you need to accomplish your goals and those of your learners.

How To Deliver eLearning?

The definition and history (rise?) of eLearning have been laid out, and now you’ll have a better understanding of what it is. It is advantageous and simple to implement eLearning in your firm.

Some eLearning approaches can assist your employees to stay current on corporate policies, while others can help your clients better grasp what you’re selling.

1. Using An LMS

Online training is delivered through the use of a learning management system (LMS). If you’re looking for an LMS that goes above and beyond this, look no further than a top-notch LMS.

Choosing an LMS can seem difficult at first, but by analyzing your training needs and establishing your objectives, you can considerably restrict your search.

Cloud-based, open source, commercial, and installation-based are just some of the options available for learning management systems. LMSs that are cloud-based allow you to swiftly design courses, enroll users, and properly track the progress of your students.

Your training delivery should be scalable with a strong cloud-based LMS, and the customer success team should be there only to make sure you succeed.

2. Using SCORM

SCORM can be a bit of a mystery to individuals who aren’t familiar with the field of eLearning. But we’ll explain everything to you in detail here so that you can better grasp it. Good news:

SCORM provides your learners with an interactive, engaging experience and gives you more control over the amount of time spent on your courses.

Commonly Accepted Industry Standard for the Exchange of Digital Content. However, don’t let it confuse you! To put it simply, SCORM is a set of technical requirements designed to establish a standard approach to the creation and use of electronic learning content.

It establishes a set of guidelines for the creation and distribution of online courses. Most SCORM courses are built using the same authoring tools, and so have a similar structure.

If you want to use SCORM in your eLearning, you’ll need a Learning Management System (LMS) that is SCORM compliant.

Make sure to keep in mind that SCORM costs money because it requires an authoring tool. The advantages of incorporating SCORM into your eLearning materials, on the other hand, much outweigh the costs.

3. Using xAPI

xAPI has risen to prominence in the online training industry over the past few years. When it comes to monitoring learning events, xAPI is often described as the successor to SCORM, as it has redefined some of the most fundamental techniques of tracking.

In addition, it removes many of the limits that were imposed by prior requirements. It provides a degree of adaptability that is appropriate for today’s fast-paced society.

Modern students expect to be able to learn on the move, whether they’re traveling to work or simply stopping for a cup of coffee on the way. xAPI can keep track of all of these learning events, whether or not they take place in an LMS.

In essence, xAPI will provide you with a comprehensive picture of your student’s lives. xAPI, on the other hand, has several limitations. Because of this misunderstanding, some organizations believe that adopting Tin Cin will result in attractive course materials.

This is incorrect. The xAPI specification provides nothing to improve the user experience or the UI of a course. It is solely the xAPI that governs the tracking and storage of data.

Types Of eLearning Training

There is a wide range of reasons why people choose online education. Convenience and accessibility are key advantages of eLearning, whether you’re trying to learn something new or brush up on your existing knowledge.

Our eLearning platform, LearnUpon, can help businesses deliver four different types of training.

1. Employee Training

eLearning for employee development is the most common sort of eLearning in companies. There are a variety of reasons why companies use employee training, such as onboarding new employees and enhancing employee performance.

Formalizing and streamlining the delivery of training for employees is made possible through the use of an LMS.

eLearning fosters professional development by developing knowledge and an eLearning culture, which is more successful than traditional training.

You should also be able to set up examinations, run reports, and collect feedback from your learners so that you can constantly monitor and improve your training program performance.

2. Compliance Training

Compliance training is essential for most businesses. As a result, your staff is well-versed in the rules and guidelines that pertain to their specific job duties and industry.

Health, safety, and respect for others are all part of mandated compliance training. Among the many instances of compliance training are:

• Training in Diversity
• Human Resources Law
• Training on Anti-Harassment.

Having a well-run compliance training program reduces the risk of non-compliance and preserves your reputation.

As a result, your staff will be happier and more productive as a result. Using a dependable LMS, eLearning makes it easier to keep up-to-date with changing regulations and to update your training resources.

3. Customer Training

Your customers may find the idea of customer training strange at first. The worth, however, is immense! Customers benefit from customer training programs because they learn how to use and appreciate your product or service.

Software companies, in particular, love this style of training. Customers profit from customer training, but so do the firms that provide it. Having better customer onboarding, more product or service engagement, and better customer retention will benefit your business.

4. Partner Training

Partner training, often known as reseller training, provides your partners with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in your network.

Product information training, sales training, customer service training, and marketing guidance are all examples of training.

To become a partner, many companies require a certain level of certification. Your brand’s reputation may be protected and your business’s growth can be accelerated with the help of partner training.

Benefits Of eLearning For Your Organization

Each of these four streams of training has been briefly described, and you now have a better idea of what eLearning can do for you and your learners.

In this section, we’ll go over some of the more general advantages of implementing eLearning at your company.

1. Cost Effective

There are several advantages to eLearning, and this is one of the most crucial. There are many drawbacks to traditional training, including high costs and frustration in maintaining it.

There is no need for expensive printed training materials or even on-site instructors with eLearning, which saves money.

Modifications to your content modules can be made quickly and easily through your LMS, eliminating the need to print and distribute new course materials.

2. Saves Time

Saving time is extremely important in the workplace, so why not make the most of it? eLearning makes it easy for companies to communicate whatever changes they need to make.

eLearning makes it simple to make updates to your LMS, whether it’s to your training materials or corporate regulations.

This saves you a great deal of time when it comes to managing reprints and the like. Rather than relying on planned training, students can access content whenever and wherever they need it, saving both time and money.

Additionally, you can leverage your LMS to automate time-consuming manual procedures.

3. Improves Performance And Productivity

There are numerous benefits to using eLearning, including enhanced performance and productivity.

The ability to attend training at a time and place that works for them is highly valued by students.

eLearning allows people the freedom to learn at their own pace and in a place of their choosing, which is likely to drive them to pursue their professional ambitions.

4. Lower Environmental Impact

As part of their corporate responsibility strategy, more and more companies are making a conscious effort to reduce their carbon footprint.

If you want to reduce your environmental footprint, eLearning is a good option. It’s a greener and more eco-friendly way to learn and work than traditional methods that rely on paper.

After learning more about the benefits of eLearning, why not see what LearnUpon’s LMS can accomplish for your company? Register for a free trial and demo now!

Asynchronous E-Learning vs. Synchronous E-Learning

In asynchronous e-learning, students work at their own pace, usually on a laptop, to complete the course at their own convenience.

Pre-recorded lecture content and video, images and/or text, knowledge quizzes, simulations, and games are all examples of asynchronous e-learning programs.

There are many terms for synchronous online training, but the most frequent one is live-online training.

It is instructor-led and taken at the same time as other learners — everyone just happens to be located in different locations.

Web-conferencing or virtual classroom platforms like Adobe Connect or GoToTraining are commonly used for this training, which includes capabilities like slide or screen sharing, as well as engagement tools like polling, chat, and screen annotation.

E-Learning Skills In Demand

89% of those polled agreed that their employees must upgrade or acquire new skills as a result of developments in e-learning, according to the 2017 ATD research report Next-Generation E-Learning.

Knowledge of available tools and applications, abilities in specialized design tools and software, instructional design knowledge, and overall expertise in audio/video design are all necessary for success in e-learning, according to this research.

When generating e-learning content, use performance-based learning objectives and decision-based interactions instead of “click to reveal” activities to better retain, engage, and influence desirable job behavior.

It is possible to produce personalized digital learning content using e-learning authoring tools, which are either software or simple keyboard shortcuts. The capabilities, prices, usability, and functionality of authoring tools are all variable.

When it comes to creating educational content, PowerPoint is a popular and easy-to-use tool for many. Some LMS (Learning Management Systems) that are used to distribute learning content have built-in authoring capabilities.

Measurement and evaluation, deciding if e-learning is a good choice for content, designing, writing, and building scenarios, testing courses for usability, functionality, and browser compatibility, and designing user interfaces are the top skills lacking in TD professionals according to ATD research E-learning: The Evolving Landscape.

Difference Between E-Learning And Online Learning

Confused by the terms “e-learning” and “online learning”? Read on. You can count on us! In contrast to e-learning, online learning involves using virtual software conferencing software like Zoom to conduct face-to-face interactions between students and teachers.

With this in mind, the right authoring tools and LMS for e-Learning give up a whole new world of possibilities. Learning can take place even if the learner is not there in person.

What Purposes Does eLearning Serve Today?

There are two specific use cases for eLearning. The first category is academic eLearning, which includes K–12 learning initiatives and colleges with online course offerings.

The second, and most important growth engine in recent years, is corporate eLearning. Corporate eLearning is still useful even though many businesses continue to use online training programs.

The last option is blended learning, which combines traditional in-person instruction with eLearning that is offered beforehand and after to improve information retention.

1. Academic eLearning

When people think about eLearning, academic e-learning is a popular use case. Canvas and Blackboard were created to facilitate the creation and distribution of academic content.

Some engagement between the teacher and student is required to grade and respond to discussion boards.

The media that the student consumes and then replies to for evaluation is often text, image, or video content.

2. Corporate eLearning

Online training and corporate eLearning are two different concepts that are often used interchangeably in the industry.

Companies like IBM and HubSpot that offer eLearning courses for their products are the best examples of the differences.

New employees can learn about company communication policies from corporate team leaders via eLearning.

Many of the academic eLearning approaches are used in corporate eLearning, but the goals are more business-oriented.

It’s easier for organizations to communicate knowledge at a large scale with the help of online training, which is more interactive from the trainer’s perspective.

The following are some of the reasons why e-learning could be beneficial:

• Employee training
• Compliance training
• Onboarding training
• Product Training

Conclusion On What Is Elearning

Is it possible to sum up what eLearning is? It’s a way to learn and improve one’s abilities that is quickly becoming the new standard in business education and training.

Studies conducted by professors at Oregon State University have shown that digital learning is superior to more traditional forms of instruction.

Thank you for reading this article on “What Is Elearning.” If you have any concerns, questions, or suggestions regarding this article, please write them in the comment section below. And don’t be hesitant about passing on this piece of knowledge to others.

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