E-Learning and Its Types

Electronic learning basically means to learn things with the help of technology. Earlier learning was restricted to class room notes, paper bound books, journals, newspapers etc. But with the advent of computer and internet, learning gets a whole new dimension. They add more vigor and vivacity to the content. Learner sometimes gets bored and carried away with monotonous style of writing and explanation from author in the form of books. On the other hand the content of E- learning solutions includes animation, sound, video, message boards, live mentors (24*7) and permits multiple modes of interaction. These features tend to inculcate the learner with useful information. Mainly there are two types of E-leaning, one is web based training and other is computer based training. Computer Based Training: It is a type of learning that includes computer as a vital component for providing education. In this format, course material is burnt on CD or ROM which can be opened later on to impart knowledge based training. They mainly represent the content in a linear fashion much like reading an online book. Moreover you can create your own notes with the help of Word, Excel, PowerPoint presentations, PDF reader etc. It can include rich media and create visual effects without affecting the speed of the system. Another advantage of cbt is that it does not require any internet connection. It is browser independent. Web Based Training: It is a type of learning that incorporates the use of internet as a sole provider of knowledge. The striking feature of web based training is that it has the potential to reach a larger and more geographically dispersed audience. Its main attribute lies in the fact that it can be accessed and retrieved anytime and anywhere at the expense of a click. It reduces time as well as effort from learner's point of view. It has a wide range of applications in today's life. It includes web conferencing, distance learning, videos on social networking sites etc. In this learner can even interact with the content provider which means that this method ensures two-way communication as compared to computer based training. So, in this way E-Learning can provide solutions to ensure greater satisfaction from learner's point of view.