Elearning Stimulates Paradigm Shift in Education
The demand for e-learning is increasing as face-to-face training and learning become more difficult in the wake of the new coronavirus infection. e-learning can be taken anytime, anywhere, and more and more companies are adopting it, especially now that more and more people are working from home.
Against this backdrop, many people in charge of e-learning may be considering its introduction in the future. However, some of you may be asking yourself, "What is e-learning anyway? Why is the use of e-learning increasing? What is e-learning in the first place?
If you are interested in learning more about e-learning, or if you are considering implementing an e-learning system, please take a look at this article.
What is e-Learning?
E-learning (e-learning, e-learning) is an abbreviation for "electronic learning," meaning a learning system using the Internet. In the business world, it has been adopted as a tool for human resource development. Terms such as "online learning," "Web learning," "e-run," and "WBT" are sometimes used with the same meaning.
In most e-learning systems, learning materials and video materials produced in HTML/CSS/JavaScript, etc., are generally taught using a web browser. Before the spread of smartphones, e-learning systems were mainly used on PCs, but many e-learning services now support not only PCs but also smartphones and tablet devices.
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History of e-Learning
The e-learning form of learning has developed and permeated our lives along with the spread of the Internet and the evolution of mobile devices. Here is a brief history of how e-learning has come to its current form.
＜History of e-Learning
The Ages
Movements in the world
1) 1950s: Started in the U.S.
The development of computers began in the U.S. and other countries, based on the idea that computers could be used to support education.
(2) 1990s: Appearance and release of Windows 95
In 1995, Windows 95, which became explosively popular, went on sale, and personal computers spread to ordinary households.
(3) 2000s: Full-scale introduction of PCs in Japan
In 2000, the then Mori Cabinet launched the "e-Japan Strategy," which aimed to create a Japanese-style IT society.
④2000s: Smartphones and tablets become popular
In the late 2000s, smartphones represented by the iPhone and Android, as well as larger tablet devices, began to appear, and e-learning underwent even greater changes.
5) 2020s - Rapid market growth due to the coronavirus disaster
The spread of the new coronavirus infection causes schools to offer home-based learning and companies to promote telecommuting at a rapid pace.
Collective learning and CAI development before the advent of e-learning
Traditional group learning and group education have had challenges in terms of time and cost. Specifically, students and instructors need to be in the same place at the same time, which requires preparation, travel time, and transportation costs. In addition, since everyone proceeds with the same learning in a uniform manner, there is a tendency for differences in the level of understanding on the part of the learners.
CAI stands for "Computer Aided Instruction," which means education using computers.
Birth of "CBT," a CD-ROM-based learning system
In 1995, Windows 95 was released, and personal computers became popular in many homes and businesses. This led to the emergence of a CD-ROM-based learning format, called CBT (Computer Based Training), which provided a learning environment with multimedia learning materials that made extensive use of video, images, and sound.
However, CBT had its own problems, such as the cost of creating CD-ROMs, the difficulty of modifying the program, and the inability of the company to manage the progress of the learners.
Evolution to "WBT," Internet-based learning
WBT (Web Based Training), which refers to learning using a web-based system, was developed in light of the problems with CBT. WBT enables learners to manage learning materials and learning history together on a server, thereby overcoming the weaknesses of CBT. Another key point for learners is that they can take lectures at any time and place with an Internet connection.
Today, the online learning style described above is called e-learning, and it is used in a variety of situations such as corporate training, knowledge sharing, and distance learning.
Modern e-Learning utilizing multiple devices and SNS
The 21st century has seen the spread of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, and there is a growing need for e-learning to be compatible with multiple devices, not just PCs. The ability to view e-learning on smartphones and tablets is expected to lower the hurdles to learning and improve knowledge acquisition and motivation to learn.
Another trend in modern e-learning is the use of SNS to promote communication among learners, in addition to one-way feedback from the administrator to the learner. Dedicated contact points, bulletin boards, and internal SNSs have been set up to solicit posts and questions from learners, with the aim of increasing their motivation.
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Why E-Learning Has Increased in Importance
Why has e-learning become increasingly important in recent years? Here are five of the most important reasons.
Reason 1: The Corona Disaster Makes Group Training Difficult
With the spread of the new coronavirus, travel to and from the training site and gathering at the training site itself have become restricted. Many schools have taken measures such as canceling school attendance and conducting classes remotely. Web conferencing services such as Zoom are sufficient for one-way delivery of classes and training programs, but they cannot be used to measure understanding or have students submit assignments.
Therefore, an e-learning system provides a variety of advantages for both administrators and learners by allowing them to monitor the scores, learning status, and assignment submissions of each learner at any time and from any place.
Reason 2: Widespread Use of Communication Environments and Information Devices
With the spread of fiber-optic lines at home and at work, and the spread of high-speed, large-capacity communications such as 4G and 5G on smartphones, viewing videos has become a smooth process. The improved communication environment has also contributed to the spread of e-learning, as it has become easier to manage data centrally on a server and allow users to retrieve data when they need it.
Diffusion in the Education Field
Under the GIGA School Initiative promoted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), elementary, junior high, and high schools are beginning to provide each student with a personal terminal. Depending on the school's policy, the degree to which students can freely use the terminal or whether they can take it home may vary, but at least one terminal per student is becoming an environment in which students can use it exclusively.
In addition, most students now have smartphones. In the early days, smartphones had inferior performance compared to PCs and were limited in what they could do. Recently, however, the performance of smartphones has improved, and web content designed for PCs can now be viewed with almost no problems. Many websites are now accessed more frequently from smartphones than from PCs, and many websites are now optimized for smartphones.
Diffusion to the general public
According to a study by the Mobile Society Research Institute, among men and women aged 15 to 79, smartphone and cell phone ownership will reach 94% by 2022.
Smartphone ownership among the working generation is even higher, making it feasible to offer e-learning using personal devices, although security considerations must be taken into account.
In e-learning, the same content is generally provided to a large number of learners, and in some cases, a high level of confidentiality is not required. If a high level of confidentiality is required, measures such as restricting learning to company PCs are necessary.
Reason 3: Increased sophistication of work
With the advancement of information technology, the knowledge required to carry out work has increased overwhelmingly. We no longer live in an age where we can eat off the knowledge and skills we learned in school for the rest of our lives. Workers need to constantly acquire new knowledge and skills. New knowledge and skills need to be acquired in a timely manner, and there is not always someone nearby who can teach them.
Telework has become common, and now workers can work from any location. E-learning is suitable for deploying operational manuals and materials on legal revisions created at the head office in Tokyo to offices scattered across the country.
Reason 4: Generalization of mid-career recruitment and job change
Job changes have become more common today. It is becoming less common for new graduates to stay with a company until retirement. As a result, the timing of hiring and entry into the workforce has become more varied, and training is now provided according to the time of entry, rather than hiring new graduates en masse and providing the same education and training over the course of a year.
If an educator takes time to train each time a new employee joins the company, it may interfere with the work that should be done. Mid-career hires vary in job types and skills, so if everyone is given the same level and speed of training, it is inefficient and does not motivate the learners.
In such cases, e-learning can be used to provide training that is suited to each individual according to their level of understanding and can be conducted efficiently.
Reason 5: Document sharing systems alone are not sufficient.
For the purpose of distributing manuals, document sharing systems such as Google Docs and Google Spreadsheets may seem sufficient, but document sharing systems cannot adequately monitor viewing and learning status.
However, document sharing systems cannot adequately monitor the status of viewing and learning. Also, it is difficult to monitor the level of understanding because it is not possible to conduct confirmation tests, etc. Therefore, an e-learning system is suitable for "cases where learning is essential and evidence of learning must be preserved.
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Benefits of e-Learning
If you are currently struggling with how to train employees, share accumulated knowledge within your company, or develop human resources, e-learning is a great option. e-learning brings benefits to both managers and learners. Please see the table below for details.
＜Benefits of e-Learning
Administrators
Cost reductions can be expected.
Centralized management of learner progress, grades, and attendance information
Easier to revise and update course materials
Easy to provide appropriate learning materials for each learner
Learners
Can repeat the course
Less time and place constraints
Easy to monitor progress and level of understanding
Easy to use smartphones and tablet devices
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Disadvantages of E-Learning and their Countermeasures
By understanding the weaknesses of e-learning, you can take countermeasures when you implement e-learning. We will explain specific countermeasures to help you.
Difficulty in maintaining motivation
In the case of e-learning, the educator and learner do not meet face to face. Therefore, unlike in schools or other educational settings or in corporate group training, motivation cannot be maintained by the skills of the educator.
In order to maintain motivation, it is of course important to provide interesting and effective learning materials, but e-learning is often conducted during work hours or while traveling, so a "micro" structure is preferred. While a typical school class or group training session lasts 45 to 90 minutes, a few minutes per session is preferable for e-learning.
In addition, e-learning may be designed to arouse a desire to collect and compete by using systems such as rankings, badges (medals), and guilds (team cooperation and joint responsibility) like those used in social games.
The learner's face is not visible.
The "inability to see the learner's face" also means that we do not know the learner's level of understanding, feelings, questions, etc. If you include questions to check comprehension, you will be able to get an idea of their level of understanding. You can check their feelings and questions by asking them to answer questions in the form of a report or a questionnaire.
E-learning allows students to complete their learning online, and because they cannot see each other, careful communication is necessary.
Difficult to secure content
While it may seem difficult to create educational materials from scratch, some e-learning systems allow you to upload and use content that is already available.
For schools
Some e-learning systems for schools provide teaching materials that are aligned with educational guidelines and textbooks. By using such e-learning systems, you can introduce e-learning without the hassle of creating teaching materials.
For private companies
If the content is directly related to business operations, there are no ready-made materials available, so it is necessary to either create the materials in-house or use an e-learning materials production company. Using an outsourcing company makes it easier to create great-looking content, but it is also more expensive and difficult to update the content, so it is important to distinguish between outsourcing and in-house support.
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What You Need to Implement E-Learning
When implementing e-learning, you need to prepare two main components: a learning management system (LMS) and learning materials. Here we introduce each of them.
Learning Management System (LMS)
LMS is an abbreviation for "Learning Management System," a system that enables the creation and distribution of e-learning learning materials and the centralized management of learning progress and grades. It is the foundation for the development of an environment that supports effective e-learning implementation.
study material
Even if you have a high-quality system, it will be a waste of resources if you do not have effective learning materials. Systems that allow users to create and select from a variety of types of quizzes, tests, questionnaires, etc. are now available to enable the creation of high-quality learning materials.
When preparing learning materials, choose the best one from the following three methods according to your objectives and budget.
Use off-the-shelf products from companies that provide educational materials specialized in areas such as sales and PC skills
Hire an e-learning company to produce the e-learning course.
Produce the e-learning program using only your own resources
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Use e-Learning to Create an Efficient Learning Environment!
In this issue, we have reported on the history of e-learning, the reasons for its growing importance, and its advantages and disadvantages. e-learning is expected to be used more and more in the future, and its adoption is expected to increase in many more situations than now. Let's build an environment for efficient learning by taking advantage of its merits and covering its demerits well.
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