Challenges and myths about online learning
These days, the internet is pretty much an integral part of our daily routine. As early as 2009, France made a ruling that internet access was considered a ‘basic human right’, and 2013, when Germany ruled that the internet was ‘an essential medium in the life of society’. Elearning is hardly a foreign concept to most people at this point, as searching and using knowledge obtained from the web is one of its major uses, and online learning is quickly becoming a normal part of traditional education.
However, there are a few misconceptions about elearning that continue to linger despite how common online learning has become.
It’s only for a younger generation
It’s about the technology
The more interactive it is, the more engaging it is
Instructors are now obsolete
It’s impersonal
1. It’s only for a younger generation
Despite the portrayal of the older generations in popular media as being technologically helpless, most people are able to adapt and understand that elearning helps them learn how to do their jobs more effectively. Elearning is easy, fast, effective and a readily available resource for anyone who wants to continue to grow in their position.
2. It’s about the technology
Technology is only the medium which you will use to convey the content. The content is what will determine how effective the elearning will be. Don’t be caught up in using the latest or the coolest technology to deliver the elearning if it doesn’t support your content or prevents your users from interacting with it seamlessly.
3. The more interactive it is, the more engaging it is
It’s easy to try to jazz up bland content with more bells and whistles, but that doesn’t make the elearning better. Extraneous interactions can actually interfere with the learning process. Try to only include interactions that simplify the learning, or give the learner an opportunity to use or discover the learning.
4. Instructors are now obsolete
Moving content out of the classroom into an online space only means that the instructors role has changed, not that they are no longer needed. They are still needed to facilitate live elearning sessions, manage courses and feedback, provide online coaching, and to integrate the elearning into blended training.
5. It’s impersonal
As discussed above, there are still many ways in which a learner will still interact with an instructor in online learning; you can build ways for learners to socialize in your elearning, too. Courses that include features such as email, messaging, text or video chat, and discussion boards allow your learners to share knowledge and experience. This also opens the way to build group projects into your elearning to encourage your learners collaborate with each other.
Now that you know more about the scope of what elearning can accomplish, contact us to discuss how we can help you get the most out of your online content!
