Traditional Learning vs. eLearning

With the technological advancements of the 21st century, is the traditional classroom still the most effective learning environment? Or does the traditional classroom need to evolve and adjust to modern times? There is an argument that the traditional classroom environment is the best way of maintaining a learning process. However, In studies when students were asked to compare the traditional classroom to eLearning practices,  students have expressed a higher satisfaction from the eLearning. The Students also rated the learning as much more effective than in the traditional classroom.

 eLearning includes many components that are familiar from traditional learning, such as: presentation of ideas by the students, group discussions, arguments and many other forms of conveying information and accumulating knowledge. The contents of the course’s curriculum might be organized according to subjects and in a serial manner. 

 eLearning also includes advantages which are not found in traditional learning, such as: time for digesting the information and responding, enhanced communication among the learners, both as regards quality and as regards urgency, knowledge being acquired and transferred among the learners themselves, the ability to conduct an open discussion, where each learner gets more of an equal standing than in a face-to-face discussion, access to information and to discussion ability, responses may be made around the clock with no restrictions, a higher motivation and involvement in the process on the part of the learners. 

The following table summarizes several opinions regarding the comparison between eLearning and traditional learning:

	Traditional Classroom	eLearning  Processes
Classroom Discussions	The teacher usually talks more than the student	The student talks  at least as much and often more than the teacher
Learning Process	The learning is conducted with the whole class participating; there is almost no group or individual study	Most of the learning process takes place in groups or by the individual student.
Subject Matter	The teacher conducts the lesson according to the study program and the existing curriculum	The student participates in determining the subject matter; the studying is based on various sources of information, including web data banks and net-experts located by the student.
Emphasis in Learning Process	The students learn “what” and not “how”; the students and the teachers are busy completing the required subject matter quota; the students are not involved in inquiry-based education and in solving problems, but rather in tasks set by the teacher.	The students learn “how” and less “what”; the learning includes research study which combines searching for and collecting information from web data banks and authorities on the communications network; the learning is better connected to the real world, the subject matter is richer and includes material in different formats.
Motivation	The students’ motivation is low, and the subject matter is “distant” from them.	The students’ motivation is high due to the involvement in matters that are closer to them and to technology.
Teacher’s Role	The teacher is the authority .	The teacher directs the student to the information.
Location of Learning	The learning takes place within the classroom and the school	The learning takes place with no fixed location
Lesson Structure	The teacher dictates the structure of the lesson and the division of time	The structure of the lesson is affected by the group dynamics.

Personally, I am a huge advocate of eLearning. However, I also believe that it is not quite time to completely dismiss the traditional classroom. I feel that both have their  own separate advantages and disadvantages. I also believe that different situations require both at times. In my opinion, the most effective learning could be done by  combining and incorporating qualities from both in the learning process. I have had a positive and negative experience with both extremes throughout my educational career.

What is your opinion? Through personal experience, do you have a preference between the two? If so, why? We would love to get the input of others! Thanks!


http://www.articleways.com/Art/330962/41/E-learning-Vs-Classroom-Learning.html

The Value of Social Media in Business Training

Social Media has the ability to add value to a business's training process. Business professionals are starting to use social media platforms to improve upon the training process for new hires.


The rise of Social Media has made it easier to access information that is relevant, immediate, and personalized. This speed of knowledge is crucial in order for a company to keep a competitive edge  in today's market.


Social Media Technology has played a critical role in helping companies improve productivity of employees, increase innovation, and improve on the overall speed and flexibility of the business operations. The use of Social Media has allowed organizations to improve their training process for new hires since s

ocial media tools have allowed them to supplement formal learning. Social Media technology has given trainees the ability to reflect and practice during and after formal learning. They use such tools such Facebook, microblogging (Twitter/Yammer), and GoogleBuzz before, during, and after formal learning experiences to assist there learning process.  

Some excellent Tips Provided by Jane Hart's Center for Performance Management Research:

• Learners can review class goals before class, and post comments or questions. 
• During a class, some instructors may allow a backchannel where learners can tweet comments or questions. This enables the instructor to immediately address gaps or clarify information.
• Instructors are incorporating multiple-choice quizzes using Twitter poll service or Facebook apps. Scavenger hunts, for example Facebook’s Scavenger Hunt application, enable learners to apply knowledge in an engaging, interactive activity.
• After a class, learners and the facilitator can post comments to continue class discussions, share links to relevant resources and reflect on how they are applying the theories in their daily life by using micro-blogging or blogging.
• Learners can form an online community to continue to connect and support each other

 In addition to training, Social media makes it easier for employees to keep up-to-date with personal and professional business matters that are equally important to the company's operations. Self-directed learning is easier and more manageable with social media. Employees can use Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook to discuss topics, ask questions and network. There are also online classes, blogs, and podcasts developed by experts.

Social media also enhances mentoring opportunities for novices by facilitating the link between them and experts. Social networking sites enable employees to post their online profiles listing their areas of expertise.

Social Media also makes it easier for novices within the organization to learn faster. Social Media helps them apply their knowledge and start completing straightforward tasks more effectively and efficiently. Using microblogging, learning professionals can provide small learning chunks and facilitate short-term learning activities. Once learners are able to make decisions using their own judgment, they become competent in their area of practice. They are now productive, and able to achieve the next two business outcomes.

 In Conclusion, it is really important that businesses start using social media platforms to 

facilitates the formation, use, measurement of online communities for work teams and communities of practice. As companies get larger, more global, and more complex, they will face increasing difficulties managing their employees.  Social media tools can help them better manage. Social media should be looked at as an opportunity rather than just a new fad. Its a way for people to engage in learning, to update and maintain their skills and knowledge in an ever changing landscape. 

Reference 

Learning and Development in A Social Network   

(This is a really interesting an informative podcast that I highly recommend everyone taking the time to listen to )

Uses of eLearning

There are several ways that organizations and individuals utilize eLearning technology. Whether it is for a manager seeking professional development or a student working towards a degree, eLearning comes with a variety of benefits.

Professional use:

Companies may ask new hires or long-time employees to complete courses online to familiarize themselves with new concepts or industry practices. Rather than pass out manuals or host seminars, corporations can opt for the online option to ensure convenient access to all employees. Enspark, an eLearning and eTraining company, offers courses such as "Email Etiquette" and "Transition to Leadership." Companies such as 3M and Coca-Cola recognize the value of these programs and have utilized them in their operations.

Personal use:

Most of us have seen advertisements for Rosetta Stone, a language education program. Individuals can purchase coursework for 33 languages and work towards fluency using online courses. This learning option holds obvious advantages alternative learning options such as classes or clubs. Students can learn at their own pace, at their preferred time, with a highly regarded program.

Educational use:

Some of you may have taken an online course during your college career. As technology progresses, some schools find it advantageous to offer a distance-learning option for certain courses. UNC-Charlotte has a number of courses with an online option, including courses in Engineering and Education. Distance learning has certain advantages and disadvantages just as any other method of education, but students can decide for themselves what works best.

My eLearning experience

During my senior year in high school I participated in a program referred to as “dual enrollment,” in which I took a college-level course online during one of my class periods. This period would be spent sitting at a computer in the school library and would fit into my schedule just as any other class would have. The course, “Physical Fitness for Life,” was offered through UNC-Greensboro and consisted mostly of forum discussions and basic activities that were completed through the course’s Blackboard site. It operated on a 10-point scale and allowed me to set my own schedule when it came to completing assignments-I only had to make sure everything in the unit got down by a certain date.

Throughout the semester I came to find several things I enjoyed about taking an online course, as well as a few things that I didn’t like.

Advantages:

Set my own schedule: typically, we received one or two assignments that would be due by the end of the week. These assignments consisted of forum posts, blogs, quizzes, activities, etc. I was free to pace out the work as I saw fit, and was able to devote the period to other work if I had already completed assignments or had time to spare.

Learning at my own pace: if I was having trouble understanding a concept, it was simple for me to rewind the lecture or read over a paragraph again to clarify. This is in stark contrast to the classroom setting, where professors work from a set curriculum and are hesitant to spend too much time on a single topic, regardless of whether or not students are fully understanding.

Disadvantages:

Self-discipline: several times I found myself getting distracted and spending time surfing the Internet when I should have been doing work. The lack of a classroom setting also proved to be a disadvantage because, personally, I am much more focused and attentive when I’m being taught (as opposed to teaching myself).

Transfer of credits: while the program was advertised as offering high school students the opportunity to earn college credit, I was unable to receive credit hours for the class. This is an issue with several eLearning providers when students attempt to transfer hours to a traditional university. Curriculums and standards are different everywhere and it can be difficult to get a university to award credit for classes taken at another institution.

History of eLearning

In the early 1960s, professors at the University of Stanford began to experiment with the use of computers to teach math and reading to young children in the elemenatry schools of the area. Stanford's Education Program for the Gifted Youth is the result of these experiements.  Patrick Suppes and Richard Atkinson are the two professors that contrubuted to this development. This early e-learning system attempted to replicate autocratic teaching styles wherby the role of elearng system was assumed to be for transferring knowledge, as opposed to systems developed later based on Comuter Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), which encouraged development of knowledge.
In 1993, William D. Graziadei expanded on these ideas. He developed an online computer- deivered lecture, tutorial, and assessment project using  electronic mail. In 1997, William D. Graziadei published an article describing his strategy for this process and his experience with technology-based course development. He also discussed the possible applications that could be applied for the educational system as a whole. He also discussed how this technology could enhance the current education process and went into detail about the pros and cons of developing further in the field. His publishing had a huge influence in the field and as a result, elearning grew from there.

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What is eLearning?

eLearning  consists of all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. eLearning has evolved as computers have slowly become an essential part of the modern day learning process. There has been a significant  trend  involving the integration of learning services for computer based activities to into the traditional classroom learning environment. Examples of eLearning applications include but are not limited to: Web Based Learning, Computer Based Learning,Virtual Internet Opportunities, and Digital Collaborations. Content for eLearning processes are delivered from various platforms such as the internet, intranet/extranet, video tapes, satellite TV, and CD-ROMS. The eLearning process can either be self paced or instructor led. eLearning includes media in various forms of text, image, animation, streaming video and audio. Studies have shown that the concept of eLearning is most effective on kinesthetic learners. Computer-Based Training, Web-Based Training, and  Internet-Based Training are terms that are often used as synonyms and interchangeably for the eLearning.