Monday, November 26, 2001		Article

EDUCATION and training can never be the same again. Computers, CD ROMs and the Web have unleashed path-breaking technologies that allow teaching to occur whenever and wherever the student or teacher wants.

What is more, the definition of students and teachers has itself undergone a sea change. Students and teachers can be just about anybody—sales people in business houses, retailers or staff coordinating workflows. Computers and e-learning is transforming the way education is occurring in schools, colleges and corporate houses across the globe.

This transformation makes for great news for women. Research the world over indicates that women outnumber men in online and distance education, enabling them to keep up with learning the skills needed in the new economy.

The reasons why women benefit more from these technologies is because learning is flexible, it can occur at home, at any time and for any duration. Moreover, the new technologies allow for any permutation and combination that you need. These technologies can have still images and moving images (which can demonstrate a process better than any description) and can incorporate voice instructions and responses.

Evolving tests, personal discussions with whoever is running the course, chats with other students and putting up queries on a discussion board that allow anyone to post an answer makes for greater involvement in learning. The interactive nature of the medium also allows greater participation from students, especially from shy ones who now don’t need to muster enough courage to ask questions in a classroom. All they have to do is use the facilities on the computer and get all answers that they want.

In India too, like in the rest of the world, e-learning has made steady inroads into education. For instance, traditional tests, which took weeks to evaluate, have been put online. Several institutes have put some of their courses online, making it easier for professionals to take part and some are putting their competitive tests online, giving the results in seconds.

The possible combinations are unlimited—from having education that is completely online to Web-enhanced learning. Moreover, the teaching material remains updated and does not reflect the notes that the ageing professors made 30 years ago when they started teaching.

And as corporate houses in business and industry have begun to realise its power, more and more departments are now finding that e-learning enhances their capabilities. For example, e-learning in a sales training programme is more efficient, more timely and more relevant than traditional field training that was time consuming and necessitated travel. Using satellite television, an organisation can conduct a training course for thousands of its employees — one giving clear and consistent messages from experts at a much lower cost than was possible earlier.

The other benefits of e-learning include online assessments and baseline measurements to gauge training needs and impact; also a record that allows sales force members to review their training histories, read relevant news articles and register for classes. Thus a sales team anywhere in the world, in urban or rural areas, is continually armed with the latest industry information and knowledge.

Given the wide applications possible for e-learning, professionals estimate that this would be a $-100 billion market in the coming years. Whether it is in banking, shipping or accounting, there is always a way that can be used to increase skills and knowledge leveraging the power of the computer and Internet.

And this is not all—the potential of e-learning applications is on the increase. The reason for this is simple. Because e-learning depends on the needs of an organisation. No matter what the field, if there is learning or training to be done it can be done through e-learning.

Is this hype? Or is it reality? The rapid growth of the software available is an indication of what lies ahead. While e-learning will not displace traditional methods of learning, those who integrate the power of the computer will definitely be enhancing knowledge and skill at a faster pace than others.

The opportunities this opens up are tremendous, because Information Technology (IT) can be used by all ages. What is more this technology is also simple — all you need is to get software that enables e-learning. It is then a matter of defining the content, how it needs to be accessed and setting up the systems.

No matter where you are, whether a trainer or an educator, young or old, whether a student or a teacher, there is something for you in e-learning.

— (WFS)