Definition of e-learning

e-Learning. eLearning. "e"learning. However you write it, definitions abound.
Bullet The convergence of the Internet and learning, or Internet-enabled learning.

-The use of network technologies to create, foster, deliver, and facilitate learning, anytime and anywhere.

-The delivery of individualized, comprehensive, dynamic learning content in real time, aiding the development of communities of knowledge, linking learners and practitioners with experts.

-A phenomenon delivering accountability, accessibility, and opportunity to allow people and organizations to keep up with the rapid changes that define the Internet world.

-A force that gives people and organizations the competitive edge to allow them to keep ahead of the rapidly changing global economy.

With good design and delivery, e-learning does all these things. But, at its heart, it is, simply, learning. Too bad most interpretations focus on the technology (the "e") and not on the learning.

e-Learning has to keep the people it's designed for in mind. How do we learn? How do we acquire and retain skills and information to help us develop? Only when we address individual learning styles can the "e" in e-learning factor in. Then the technical side—the electronic delivery—can be adapted to the learner.

Maybe the "e" should actually follow the word "learning."

"The effectiveness of an elearners experience is greatly enhanced through student-centered (usability) design. For example, students remember more information from a text book that is well organized, with extensive visuals, reflection/interaction points, clear headings, etc. The same concepts exist for online courses—learners learn better through use of clear headings, limited distracted, visuals, screen-friendly fonts, appropriate white space, web safe colors, etc. Basically, usability is the process of testing (through observation) how students behave with a course—what works, what doesn't, what confuses." — elearnspace.org