Yes, that is one type of e-learning. But I believe that the most powerful e-learning is instructor-led. In instructor-led online learning a facilitator guides the learning process, the learner is connected with other learners, and the very processes of dialogue and reflection are an integral part of the learning process.

Did you know that simply adding a tutor to an otherwise self-directed e-learning course can increase course completions by 60%?1 And that's just a tutor, someone who is available to answer questions. Imagine the power of an instructor welcoming you to the course, guiding you through your learning journey, connecting you with other learners, and facilitating the dialogue that helps you discover answers for yourself. This interactivity between people is what makes face-to-face workshops so effective; instructor-led online learning brings this dynamic to learning at a distance.

Instructor-led online learning takes many different forms, but always includes asynchronous communication and/or synchronous communication. The emphasis here is on the term "communication", as these are tools which enable the dialogue between learners and facilitators. For more on these terms, please see Roberta's Synch & Asynch Definitions.

Much of my passion for this supportive and interactive online learning environment comes from my work with the Walden Institute. After beginning my own e-learning journey in 2000, I graduated from Walden's Certified Online Instructor Program in 2001, and then joined the faculty. As an instructor for this program during 2001-2002, I had the opportunity to support students from around the world, including the United States, Canada, Belgium, Hong Kong, Turkey and the Caribbean. During 2002 I took on the additional role of Program Consultant responsible for faculty development and instructional design of the COI program. These roles afforded me the opportunity to work closely with students on the design of their e-learning projects as they evolved over the 12-week program.

In my work with organizations, e-learning is just one of the learning interventions I use. Through my foundations in training needs analysis, corporate learning strategy development and instructional design, I am able to take a big picture approach. I am exceptionally passionate about the need to choose the right design and delivery method for each particular learning need. Very often that is a blended solution, combining online and traditional methods.

When you work with Westwood Dynamics, you'll get the perspective to help you determine if e-learning is appropriate for your project and, if so, how the program can be designed and delivered most effectively.

Source:
1. "Why Online Learners Drop Out", Karen Frankola, Workforce