According to the second group meeting, we decided on the final service case – Udemy, which is an E-learning Platform. Therefore, the next step is to delve into the concept of e-learning. The following literature was written by Tam and Larry.

What is E-training

E-learning( Electronic Learning) is Internet-enabled learning which has a place in education worldwide. The term “e-learning” most likely originated in the 1980s, similar to other online learning delivery time mode (Moore et al, 2011). E-learning mainly uses technology to acquire skills or knowledge, but it may mean different things to different people. E-learning can be done via email, the Internet, and multimedia because of emerging digital technologies and the impact on computerized interactions in higher education (Gunasekaran et al, 2002).  Learners can use any Internet-enabled device, including computers, iPads, and even smart phones, for e-learning. The main characteristics of e-learning are as follows:

  • E-learning, while reducing learning costs, provides faster learning speed, increases learning opportunities, and provides a clear sense of responsibility for all participants in the learning process (Gunasekaran et al, 2002). You can train multiple people in multiple locations at the same time without paying for travel, accommodation and location costs. In addition, it can save the cost of external trainers and reduce the cost of long interruptions to work and life,
  • E-learning can be completed according to the work schedule while the learning schedule is convenient, thereby forming a self-defined schedule (Moore et al, 2011). It can be started, and it can be stopped as needed, and progress can be saved, enabling individuals to learn online from their place at their own time and pace. This makes training flexible without impeding critical business activities. The self-paced nature of e-learning courses also allows everyone to learn at their own pace without having to worry about being mocked or frustrated, thereby ensuring maximum knowledge understanding and retention.

Overall, it provides information from various sources through the network, provides all learners with more sources of knowledge, improves service quality, reduces learning costs, and enables timely viewing of information.

How people can benefit from E-learning

E-learning is considered to be a promising tool for individuals accessing education. The popularity of Internet education has led to a significant increase in the number of e-learning courses and systems that provide different types of academic services (Al-Fraihat et al., 2020). There are several reasons why e-learning is gaining more acceptance by various people. The direct advantage of online education compared to traditional education is the flexibility of study, which offers learning opportunities in any place as well as any time series (Almaiah and Alyoussef, 2019). For instance, individuals can easily access learning materials online, while eLearningNC (2020) further indicated that compared to face-to-face instructor-led courses, students who are learning online retain more of their materials. E-learning can also meet different users’ learning styles, such as reading text, watching video and communicating (Abdellatief et al., 2011). In addition, with the development of Information Technology, it can be noticed that the professionalism and breadth of e-learning have been improved (Al-Fraihat et al., 2020). The online education system not only delivers multiple teaching methods and techniques but also provide courses covering diverse professional fields to satisfy the needs of various learners.

In today’s pluralistic society, E-learning can affect the way individuals communicate as well as acquire knowledge. Traditionally, accessibility to collaboration and communication has been limited to students in the same classroom or members in the same organization. Currently, collaborative learning can be promoted through the Internet and beyond geographic boundaries, and a wide range of learning resources available in different formats. Opportunities for collaboration and interactive communication features have been extended, such as Wikis, forums and peer-to-peer events. (Al-Fraihat et al., 2020). Learners can attend courses with professionals from different countries on the online learning platform to promote knowledge sharing and cross-cultural communication. Furthermore, they can access to courses and activities conducted by some of the outstanding talents in the professional field, communicating and learning expertise with them, which is hard to achieve in traditional education. E-learning systems are gradually focusing on improving interaction (Almaiah and Alyoussef, 2019), as you can communicate with professors or other students in the online classroom. Sometimes it is a live broadcast, and learners can raise hands “electronically” and interact in real-time, while sometimes the form of presentation is a pre-recorded speech (eLearningNC, 2020). In general, learners can perceive the comprehensiveness and flexibility of knowledge brought by e-learning platforms.

To conclude, whether an e-learning system can succeed in operation depends on student acceptance and their actual use (Almaiah and Alyoussef, 2019; Al-Fraihat, D. et al., 2020). Therefore, project developer of the system will attach importance to promoting the interactive experience of users in order to ensure their satisfaction, so that learners may gain more benefits from e-learning in the future.

Al-Fraihat, D. et al. (2020) ‘Multidimensional Conceptual Model for Evaluating E-learning System Success (EESS model)’

References:

  • Abdellatief, M. et al. (2011) ‘A Technique for Quality Evaluation of E-Learning from Developers Perspective Software Process Improvement Implementation in Small and medium size Enterprises View project ERP Software Measurement and Quality Model View project A Technique for Quality Evaluation of E-Learning from Developers Perspective’, American Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 3(1), pp. 157–164.
  • Al-Fraihat, D. et al. (2020) ‘Evaluating E-learning systems success: An empirical study’, Computers in Human Behavior. Elsevier Ltd, 102, pp. 67–86.
  • Almaiah, M. A. and Alyoussef, I. Y. (2019) ‘Analysis of the Effect of Course Design, Course Content Support, Course Assessment and Instructor Characteristics on the Actual Use of E-Learning System’, IEEE Access. IEEE, 7, pp. 171907–171922.
  • Gunasekaran, A., McNeil, R. D., & Shaul, D. (2002). E‐learning: research and applications. Industrial and commercial training.
  • Moore, J. L., Dickson-Deane, C., & Galyen, K. (2011). e-Learning, online learning, and distance learning environments: Are they the same?. The Internet and Higher Education, 14(2), 129-135.
  • What is eLearning? | eLearningNC.gov (2020). Available at: http://www.elearningnc.gov/about_elearning/what_is_elearning/ (Accessed: 22 February 2020).