Page 164 - Introduction to Electronic Commerce and Social Commerce

5.2 E-Learning, E-Training, and E-Books 145

M-Learning
• Large number and diversity of learners. E- learning
A special category of e-learning is m-learning, or mobile can provide training to a large number of people from
learning, which refers to e-learning or other forms of educa- diverse cultural backgrounds and educational levels,
tion using mobile devices. Thus, one can learn at any place even though they are at different locations in different
where a mobile device works. M-learning deals with com- time zones. Large companies such as Cisco Systems,
munication and teaching in wireless environments. Special Inc. (cisco.com) provide online training courses to a
attention is given to situations where the instructors and large number of employees, customers, and business
the teaching materials are mobile. This technology enables partners.
learners to work and collaborate more easily than in off-line • Innovative teaching. Ability to provide innovative
situations. An example is MobileLearn (waldenu.edu/expe- teaching methods such as special engagements,
rience/learning/mobilelearn), an online learning program interaction with experts, interaction with learners in
offered by Walden University (waldenu.edu), an online uni- other countries, and so forth.
versity that extensively uses m-learning. Some off-line uni- • Measurement and assessment of progress. Ability
versities are using mobile learning as well. One such to assess progress in real time, find areas of difficul-
university is Abilene Christian University (acu.edu); faculty ties, and design remedial work.
are focused on using tablets for learning and teaching (see • Self-paced and motivation learning. E-learning
acu.edu/technology/mobilelearning). For further details students usually are self-paced and self-motivated.
including case studies and resources, see m-learning.org These characteristics may result in higher content
and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-learning. See also a slide retention (25–60% higher than with traditional
presentation titled “What is M-Learning” at slideshare.net/ lecture- based training).
aurionlearning/what-is-mlearning. • Richness and quality. E-learning enables the use of
top instructors as well as employing rich multime-
Benefits and Drawbacks of E-Learning dia support. This may make learning more enjoy-
able. Difficult content can be made interesting and
E-learning has many benefits both to the teaching institutions easy to understand. Overall, the quality of learning
and to the learners. However, it also has several drawbacks, may increase.
thus making it a controversial topic. • Flexibility. E-learners are able to adjust the time,
location, content, and speed of learning according
Benefits of E-Learning to their own personal schedules.
• Updated and consistent teaching material. It is
In the Internet age, skills and knowledge need to be continu- almost impossible to economically update the infor-
ally updated and refreshed (lifetime learning) to keep up mation in textbooks more frequently than every 2 or
with today’s fast-paced business and technological changes. 3 years; e-learning can offer real-time access to the
This means that more people need to learn and frequently do most updated knowledge. Delivery of e-learning
so in nontraditional ways. E-learning supports such learning may be more consistent than that of material pre-
due to the following capabilities and benefits. sented in traditional classroom learning, because
variations among teachers and teaching materials
are minimized.
• Ability to learn from mobile devices. This helps
learning in any place and at anytime as well as pro-
• Education. Students can learn at home and keep viding support to learners by teachers and peers.
their regular jobs while in school. Busy homemak- • Expert knowledge. In contrast with the knowledge
ers can earn degrees. of a single instructor in the classroom, e-learning
• Learning and training time reduction. E-learning may include the knowledge of several experts, each
can expedite training time by up to 50%. of whom prepares a teaching module in his or her
• Cost reduction. The cost of providing a learning area of expertise.
experience can be reduced by 50–70% when class- • Fear-free environment. E-learning can facilitate
room lectures are replaced by e-learning sessions. learning for students who may not wish to join a
This includes reduced faculty cost, no classrooms, face-to-face group discussion to interact with peers
and less or no travel time. or teachers.