E-learning

The Internet revolution expanded the horizon and capabilities of e-learning. The authors debated whether distance education was better than face-to-face, but concluded that there was not practical difference between one or the other. Research has concluded that is not the delivery medium what cause the learning outcomes; it is the instructional method. Well-designed and implemented courses will produce similar effects in traditional classroom or online environment. Understanding learners characteristic and having clear learning goals are key components to design a good courseware. I believe these two factors are the foundations for developing a good courseware, and they will affect most of the other factors cited by the authors such as the learning environment, level of interactivity, and e-learning architecture. If the designer fails to identify the learner’s characteristic and training goals at the planning stage, he could develop a training course that would not meet the needs of the learners, and can cripple the intended learning outcomes.

Clark, Ruth, & Mayer, Richard. (2010). E-learning and the science of instruction: proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia design, 2nd edition. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer & Co.