eLearning is not a method of training; it's a framework that invites the use
of whatever method best fits the situation at hand. Here's a starter list. It's
incomplete. Email me your suggestions.
Help me flesh out the list.
| method of delivery |
description |
pro |
con |
| classroom, instructor-led training,
ILT |
instructors & learners in same place
at same time |
most enjoyable, only way for "people
people" |
expensive, set time, large blocks
of time |
| virtual class |
same time, different places. two-way audio, generally shared
application space, sometimes shared video. 15 to 20 learners maximum. |
closest to ILT, can use ILT content, each learner can be in
a different spot |
nothing beats being there in the flesh |
| virtual lecture |
same time (although can be recorded for replay later), different
places. often have email to lecturer, intra-group chat, poll taking |
unlimited audience size. |
little interaction. |
| self-paced |
any time, anywhere. learner controlled. could be CBT, web-based
training, reading, lab exercise, streaming video, web tour, treasure hunt |
scant incremental cost per learner. convenient. |
expensive to develop. |
| mentoring |
one-to-one assistance & coaching. can be email, phone,
in person, instant messaging. if scheduled in advance, it's "office
hours." |
personalized response to needs. direct source of expert advice. |
expensive to administer. |
| discussion board, threaded discussion |
any time. |
good reference. answering questions is a great teacher in
itself. inexpensive. |
without a host, hard to get participation. need a host to
prune obsolete, obscene, and off-target postings. can provide bogus information. |
| chat |
realtime online "conversation." ephemeral--if you
miss it, it's gone. usually gets off track fast. |
available free nearly everywhere. |
usually frivolous. see Jakob Nielsen's rant
on this. |
| realtime discussion |
can be expert-led or confined to a single topic. unlike a
chat, the discussion may be archived for future reference. |
simple to set up. |
can drift. |
| study group or buddy system. |
can be as simple as two people working at one computer (often
more effective than studying solo). |
inexpensive. self-sustaining. leverages prepared content.
keeps learners plugged in. |
not monitored, easy to drop out. |
| help desk |
on demand. 1:1 problem-solving advice. can be phone or email
or Instant Messaging. |
easy to implement. |
staff required to monitor. |
| email |
the modern equivalent of a phone call or chance encounter
in the hall. (just make sure everyone's got the email addresses they need.) |
easy to implement. |
may get lost in the shuffle -- some people get hundreds of
emails a day. |
