T+D MAGAZINE (01/2010) LOOKS AT THE STATE OF ELEARNING
The ‘learning’ hype of the late 90s that was fueled by the dot com craze subsided when the money dried up. ELearning companies too went through the catharsis of change and consolidation. Many people who had talked down the value of technology-based learning, partly as a reaction to the threat of displacement by technology, felt somewhat vindicated when the elearning word faded from everyday use. But while it may have dimmed in profile that only provided eLearning the room to attend to its fundamentals and proceed to change the learning landscape forever.
The Old Fight is Dead
Arguments pro or con for elearning or classroom modes miss the point that the world has moved on: from Traditional (teacher/instructor-led) Learning, to Technology Led Learning (that boom about 10 years ago) to today’s Technology Assisted Learning. It’s no longer learning from technology but with technology. All those who have not adapted their learning models, systems, processes, and styles to fit that synergistic model of people and technology are running late. Those who teach, instruct, coach…by whatever name, now must acknowledge their very able, willing, and supportive technology complement if they intend to do their jobs well–and cost effectively.
The ‘Normal’ Way to Now Do a Part of It
Even the old standard tags of anytime, anywhere learning are outdated. When something is or becomes a default it needs no tags. No one talks about anytime, anywhere routes when discussing transportation; roads are a default. However, rail, sea, and air complements are part of the discussion too. In this era of information self-seekers, elearning now has the same function within learning. It is complemented by other modes, some more significant than others. [See my report titled A Review of Skills Development Options.] And about that other significant contributor to learning–the instructor–we did remember to adapt accordingly now, didn’t we?