In a broad sense, eLearning can be understood as the delivery of learning and training through electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones, tablets, etc. Over the years, it has proved to be a valuable tool for improving communication and increasing employee engagement rates in formal corporate settings. Thanks to the plethora of benefits that it has to offer for both, trainers and trainees.
It not only makes it easy for learners to access the training material from anywhere anytime but also reduces the time and cost involved in the development and delivery of training programmes significantly. The use of advanced tools such as customised learning management systems can further enhance these convenience and scalability features.
The adoption of eLearning technologies for employee training was already on the rise when the forced digital transformation during the pandemic accelerated it multifold. Now, even the organisations that were previously hesitant are implementing a variety of eLearning solutions to ensure an uninterrupted follow of learning. However, there are still many aspects of eLearning that users are not completely aware of.
One such aspect is the different types of learning that eLearning solutions can offer. Yes! Depending on the tools and format being used to deliver the training content, eLearning can be categorised into various types.
To give you a better understanding, here is a brief description of some of these types:
Fixed E-Learning
Fixed eLearning can be understood as a modern version of traditional learning but an older version of eLearning. The content used in the learning process is fixed and all of the students that participate receive the same information. The materials are set in stone by the lecturers and do not adjust to the preferences of the learners. This style of learning has been the norm in traditional classrooms, but it isn’t optimal in e-learning.
Adaptive E-Learning
This can be considered an opposite format of the previous one. Adaptive eLearning has the learner at its heart. The content is tailored to suit the specific needs of the learner according to his skills, abilities and individual preference. This allows learning to be a more personalised experience which can drive up the engagement rates and improve knowledge retention.
As this form of e-learning is more complex to organise and implement than traditional teaching methods, it’s worth and effectiveness is sometimes overlooked. However, in reality, it is the perfect tool to impart effective training to learners who wish to work at their own pace.
Collaborative Learning
Collaborative e-learning is a new style of learning in which a group of students learn and achieve their learning objectives together. In order to reach their common learning objectives, learners must collaborate and practise cooperation.
This type of e-learning builds on the concept that learning is best done with a group of people who share common goals and can thus, interact and learn from one another. However, this can also lead some learners to become overly reliant on other group members. They may prefer to become an inactive member while others do all the hard work. Thus, for this type of learning to work, learners need to have self-discipline and motivation to learn.
Asynchronous Learning
Asynchronous Learning is when students can learn according to their needs, schedules, and learning style. In this style of learning, instructors provide reading material and downloadable lectures that learners can access at their leisure, regardless of time or location.
Asynchronous Learning also allows learners to set their own individual pace of learning. After completing a course, they can either restart it or move on to the next, depending on how much of the previous course they have actually understood.
Conclusion
While all these eLearning types have different features and characteristics, they do not work in isolation. They are all interconnected and complement each other. Thus, organisations need to analyse the needs of their learners and then develop a robust eLearning programme that incorporates all those learning formats that can fulfil those needs.