E-Learning

eLearning is a term used to describe learning done at a computer, usually connected to a network. eLearning provides the student or learner with information that can be accessed in a setting free from time and place constraints.


Here is some of the effectiveness of eLearning:
Cost savings due to elimination of travel expenses
Improve collaboration and interactivity among students
eLearning is less intimidating than real life courses taught by instructors
Students are able to go through materials at his own pace
Able to access information timely


However, there are also some disadvantages of eLearning such as:
Lack of interaction in real life
Students who do not have self discipline will not study daily
Students will have the tendency to do their work at the eleventh hour
Students will not have a chance to do project work
When faced with a problem, students need to email their instructors to seek help
Certain concepts needs real life experiment to be taught well and fully understood


Personal experience:
Currently, I am attending NTR109 course. NTR109 is an e-Learning course whereby this Web class is a combination of students from Buffalo, NY and students from Singapore Institute of Management in Singapore. Students will have a chance to interact during article discussions and general discussion forums. Students were told to constantly check our email as this is the only way besides Ublearns that we are able to communicate. Checking email frequently also help us know the latest important announcement from our instructor. There are assignments posted up in ublearns and students need to login to complete our work within a certain time frame. Failure to do so will result in loss of marks. Personally, I find eLearning less fun as compared to traditional way of learning in class. eLearning really need a lot of discipline on the students part so that they can excel in their studies. The only visible thing I like about elearning is the fact that we can study at our own time and there is no need for us to wake up so early in the morning.

Microsoft surface technology:

Learning Content Development System is a free software from Microsoft that let you create and publish e-learning courses. You can include software simulations, interactive Flash content (such as Drag and Drop, tile puzzle game, etc.) and the regular true-false / multiple choice style questions in your e-learning content. Once you are done authoring the course, it can preview in the web browser and you may then publish it as a SCORM 1.2 Package for hosting in any Learning Management System.

Future classroom & success rate of eLearning


In my opinion, I think the future classrooms will have computers or laptops for each and every individual student. Nanyang Primary School is now trying out the ipad studying for certain classes of students and students were provided with an ipad each. In Nanyang Polytechnic, students’ timetable includes eLearning every week. Lecturers do not teach during eLearning week and students have to gather at computer labs to finish their worksheets after reading what was posted online. I guess in the near future, eLearning will become more and more popular. However, given the fact that traditional learning method is still more beneficial, I do not foresee a future where traditional learning will be replaced by eLearning.