Thread: Electronic Learning

Electronic Learning {e-Learning} is the mode of acquiring knowledge by means of the Internet, and computer based training programs. In this type of education, students study on their own at home or office and communicate with the faculty and other students via email, electronic forums, video¬conferencing, chat rooms, bulletin boards, instant messaging and other forms of computer-based communication. In e-Iearning, you can learn about any subject anytime, anywhere with the help of a computer. E-learning can be divided into four broad categories described below.



Knowledge-based e-Leaming:

This type of e¬Learning involves giving step-by-step instructions to perform a particular task. Usually, software manufacturers use this type of e-Learning to solve their clients' software-related problems. A client posts his query related to some software task to the manufacturer's ,website and gets the step-up-step
,guidance to undertake the task. .

Online Support-based e-Leaming:

In Online Support-based e-Learning, the user puts up his query on forums, chat rooms, online bulletin boards, emails etc. and gets the answer to his query online. Online support offers .the opportunity to get relatively quick answers to more specific questions.

Synchronous-based e-Learning:

The Synchronous-based e-Learning operates in real-time environment where an instructor provides learning and training to students. In this type of e-learning, students and their instructor can set a time for direct interaction over the Internet. Direct real-time communication with the instructor and fellow students creates a virtual classroom in every student's living place. This type of training usually takes place via websites, audio or video-conferencing and Internet telephony.

Asynchronous-based e-Ieaming:

This type of e¬Learning is most common as it involves self-learning by means ofinternet, Intranet and CD-ROM. It may include access to instructors through online bulletin boards, online discussion groups, and emails.