ELearning Opportunities
ELearning has opened up opportunities for various individuals. For the students, reporting to the training institution is not necessary seeing that learning materials can be accessed online. On the other hand, trainers need not deal with crowded classrooms and learning institutions need not invest in public address equipment. That notwithstanding, eLearning bears merits and demerits alike. One of the key advantages of eLearning is the availability of learning resources from any location despite the geographical barriers (Attwell, 2007). Other advantages include promotion of active and independent learning, flexibility in the sense that one can comfortably undertake their course while in full-time employment and learning is not limited to weekdays as is the case with conventional learning (Attwell, 2007). Unfortunately, one of the key demerits of e-learning is the fact that assessments provided online are often objective in nature. As such, this mode of learning does not allow for in-depth subjective arguments. Other disadvantages include the inability to ascertain the authenticity of a student's work and difficulties in conducting practical-based assessments.
Appropriate Use of eLearning
Taking into account the merits and demerits of eLearning, this mode of training can best be used in teaching courses or units that are mostly theoretical, such as law. However, this mode of learning might not be appropriate in teaching more technical courses such as engineering due to the extent of the practical aspect of such courses (Attwell, 2007). It is important to note that knowledge dissemination and retention are key for any organization, and eLearning can be used to facilitate this. In essence, an e-library and learning portals can be established within the organization. The members of staff can then be provided with login details to enable them to access the information stored in these platforms. Needless to mention, this would not only help improve operational efficiency but also ensure that all members of staff are well acquainted with key aspects of the organization.
References
Attwell, G. (2007). Personal Learning Environments-the future of eLearning? eLearning papers, 2(1), 1-8.
