BUSINESSMore to e-learning than online trainingTech Talk. By Tom Savel, MD, amednews contributor. July 22, 2002. Three important terms to be familiar with in the field of e-learning are "blended," "synchronous" and "asynchronous." If a user takes a course that includes both online e-learning and instructor-led training, the term blended e-learning is usually used.
If an e-learning product is described as synchronous, it means that the communication between the instructor and student is real-time -- essentially creating a "virtual" classroom experience. Live audio and video conferencing are examples of synchronous e-learning. In addition, students are able to view real-time illustrations, drawn by the instructor, through what is called a whiteboard. In many cases, students can communicate with each other via live text chat rooms. One of the challenges of synchronous e-learning is the logistics of coordinating the real-time meeting. In contrast to synchronous e-learning, if there is a delay in the interaction between the students and instructors, the e-learning is described as asynchronous. Self-paced courses, which may either be CD-ROM or Web-based, are examples of asynchronous e-learning. Asynchronous e-learning includes communication via e-mail or via Web-based discussion forums, also known as message boards. There are three other important terms that can help in understanding the various ways that a learner can interact with an e-learning product. If a learner is able to take a relatively passive role and simply listen to the audio of the instructor, or read through a provided slide presentation, the instruction is generally described as didactic. If the learner is thrown into a simulation of a real-life experience and is required to make decisions, the instruction can be described as interactive. Finally, if, as part of the instruction, the learner must communicate with other students and share information -- via a whiteboard, for example -- that instruction can be described as collaborative. These terms provide a general framework of the various types of e-learning experiences. You may find that many times the lines of instruction style are blurred and that even within an e-learning lecture the instructional style may quickly vary from didactic to interactive, for example, and then back to didactic. Dr. Savel is president and co-founder of Cedar Cove Technologies, a clinical software development company. He can be reached by email (tsavel@cedarcovetech.com) Copyright 2002 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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