elearningpost: 10 Damaging E-learning Myths

elearningpost: 10 Damaging E-learning Myths

(from the comments-->)

Myth: "Rest In Peace > Traditional Learning". A lot say that the education/learning/ knowledge transfer in future is just going to be elearning; I wonder how true it can be. The more farther I try to think, more pseudo the statement seems to me.

Eventhough we have advanced elearning products which can teach rocket science, explain structure of D.N.A, build a space station in 30 days :) blah...blah...blah...I am sure we don't have and can't have Keats or Shakespere in elearning. Poetry, drama, dance etc., there are many fields of knowledge which can't be potrayed using elearning. I know that in today's world...best practices/processes/ statements will be redundant tomorrow; and there may be elearning programs which can teach all the stuff mentioned above...will there be that 'human touch' from the bottom of the heart, traditional learning gives?

Posted by: Santosh on May 6, 2003

Just like the viewpoints expressed by many, I totally concur with the myths that have been discussed in the paper. As an IT professional, I can relate some of this to the revolution that came about with the proponents of CASE Tools (to automate software development); This we can see is quite a futile process and not easily possible in terms of the application domain. If this were to happen we would only have spec writers (without creative flair) and no system developers within the IT world.

Moreover, it is very difficult to automate the analysis and design phases of system development using CASE Tools much like replacing the conventional classroom with an approach that lacks the human side all in all.

Irrespective of all advancements that may come about in delivery, one thing that is sure is the fact that we cannot work with the assumption that one approach suits or fits all. On the contrary, it is very true that blended approaches must be explored and used in order to strike a balance between face-to-face versus virtual learning.

sekam

Posted by: on May 4, 2003

Hi Elizabeth,

I feel your pain. However, the sad fact of the matter is that in the current economy e-learning bids are won mainly on cost (given a minimum level of quality). We are fast becoming a commodity market - price is everything. Also, let's not forget that training departments have never had the biggest budgets to spend - especially in difficult times. The attitude of a lot of my customers is that as long as it is equal to classroom training (not difficult), then price wins.

Solutions? Honestly, I don't know. But two common ways out of commodity markets:

1) innovation - we come up with something new that clients are willing to pay more for (e.g. quality simulations)
2) We find a new market - i.e. instead of chasing large blue-chip companies we try to start a new market (e.g. government or home learners). New markets are less prone to the terrors of competition, at least for a few years.

Stuart (the author of the article)

Posted by: stuart on April 24, 2003

This article is hugely useful, and I intend to mention it during interviews with potential employers. If they agree that these points are myths, they are likely to be people I want to work with!

I have worked as a scriptwriter/instructional designer for both elearning mills and a bespoke company developing corporate training. The bespoke company (now defunct) produced some magnificent pieces of learning that hit a lot of elearning buzz points (interactive, fun, learner focused, etc.)but which also received excellent reviews from learners and fulfilled the client's performance goals.

However, the bespoke company was constantly bedeviled by clients who could not understand why the solution was more expensive than that provided by x-other bidders, despite consistent explanation of the benefits of elearning that touched many different learning styles and considered learner need a primary element of the learning. Many a contract was lost simply because the bespoke option was too expensive, despite the demonstrated benefits of the solution.

Until clients can understand that sometimes more (money) means more effective learning and a better return-on-investment, which you touched on in your article, elearning mills will continue to dominate with mind-numbing books-on-line solutions simply because they are cheaper.

Posted by: Elizabeth OShea on April 24, 2003