Don’t fall off the e-learning bandwagon.

E-learning has been around for along time: really, ever since computers came into being. I remember getting my first computer in the late 70s, and Atari 400 and soon after that an 800. Most of what I learned about computer and how to operate them came from hard copy books, very little was actually from the computer.

In the early 80s I joined the Navy as an Aviation Electrician. Most of my electrical and electronics training was from a computer terminal. This training was delivered in modules. I would study the material at a computer terminal and take practice tests. When I felt that I was ready to take the actual test I would use another terminal. The results were graded and a printout of the result was generated.

Today on-line learning and virtual worlds like “Second Life” are in the forefront of e-learning. Real time simulators of all sorts abound. Almost all major colleges and universities have some kind of on-line degree program. Like with many new things, there is a “craze-level” of activity before it levels off. During this heightened level of activity there are some really good things taking place but there are also a lot of not-so-good things taking place.

Unfortunately, some people may experience the not-so-good things and fall off the e-learning bandwagon and miss out on the really good potential of e-learning. Organizations may spend a lot of money on the newest e-learning “innovation” to only watch it fizzle out in a short time.

E-learning is growing and changing constantly. It is also blazing trails into new uncharted territories. There will be some bumps along the way. There will be a lot of hype surrounding new things. There will be some not so good experiences. But the basics of e-learning have been around for a long time and will continue to play as an important tool in the learning process. Those that get caught up in the hype of the latest and greatest might end up falling off the e-learning bandwagon; taking a slow approach to what e-learning has to offer might help prevent a fall.