Did you know that the earliest form of e-learning started as far back as the 1840s?

The first distance learning course was introduced by Isaac Pitman in Great Britain. He taught shorthand via correspondence. Pitman mailed assignments to students and received them back via mail as well. While this may not qualify as electronic, the system used the basic principles of teaching and learning outside the classroom.

Today, this learning model has developed – from using the mail to a computer with internet technology, making it faster and more efficient. Learning could be through webinars, webcasts, Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC), and even Open Online Universities.

If you haven’t tried online learning yet, here are a few reasons why you should try it:

1. Online learning offers increased interaction

   Did you know that online learning provides so many venues for interaction, not only with your classmates but on a global scale? Because e-learning is increasingly being supported by tools, such as forums, and social media tools like Facebook, Instagram and others, you can participate in entire communities of learning or communities of practice. You can tweet or post your opinions, comments or questions, or join debates about topics you’re learning about at the moment. Posts can even become deeper and more informative when participants share links to relevant resources such as articles or videos. If you’re lucky, professionals and experts in the field can even participate in online discussions that can take your learning to a whole new level.

2. It’s very effective

   Online programs are designed by certified professors and instructors, and are customized for e-learning. Many online courses are enriched with educational technology strategies like blogging or journaling, video or podcasts, and for the more advanced types, simulation and gamification that make them engaging. Online course design is backed by methods that make it easier for learners to retain knowledge, provide greater learner engagement, and even provide a venue for practical application.

3. Offers convenience and flexibility

   E-learning provides you a range of options. There are self-study modules, multimedia tools like videos and podcasts, facilitated e-learning, webinars, online tutorials, and other applications. You can learn with a group, by yourself, or one-on-one with an instructor. You can access courses wherever you are and whenever you need using mobile gadgets, like tablets or cellular phones. Programs also allow students to download materials and assignments so that they are accessible even offline, and then upload coursework at a later time.

4. It is cost-effective

   Cost-effectiveness is one the major benefits of online learning, both for the learner and the educator. First, there are no travel costs for students. Many courses also prescribe books and other resources that are accessible online for free. On the other hand, institutions and corporations benefit from lower training costs because of reduced travel, reduced production of material, and zero cost for space. E-learning is even good for the environment. A study by Britain’s Open University says that “producing and providing distance learning courses consume an average of 90% less energy and produces 85% fewer CO2 emissions per student than conventional face-to-face courses” (Why E-Learning is so effective, The Rapid E-Learning Blog).

5. It’s the wave of the future

   E-learning is on the rise. Aside from schools, corporations are increasingly using it for training and providing continuous learning options for professional development. As teaching methods and educational technology are being developed continually, more and more people are also adapting to independent study and self-directed learning.

 
Sources: Reminder of why E-Learning is great, from LearnDash.com; A brief history of elearning, from efrontlearning.net; What are the potential benefits of online learning? from World Wide Learn.com.; The digital degree, The Economist.