E-learning & the shift to digital textbooks

One college in Fort Worth, TX is debating on whether or not to shift their campus to an all "e-learning" digitalized learning environment. Instead of students lugging around their heavy textbooks, they would essentailly have digital textbooks instead of pricy hardbound books. Students would pay less for the digital copy of their textbooks and still get the same learning experience as if it were a textbook. This e-learning experience would be more accomodating for the students and easier to keep up with as well. Students would easily be able to bring their laptop or ipad to class and follow along with what their professor is lecturing on. I believe by allowing e-learning and integrating it within the classroom, students would essentailly be better prepared for class and eventually change the way college campuses operate in all aspects of education. E-learning can open the door to many types of opportunities that may not have seemed plausable 30 years ago.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/26/3764554/tcc-studying-shift-to-digital.html

The Future of E-learning

E-learning is a rapidly growing learning tool used for people all over the world and for all ages. Majority of the electronic learning products are purchased for young children prior to entering elementary school or for adults that are out of school trying to further their education. Ambient Insight released that the spending on electronic learning products should double by 2014 based off of data from 2009. Online schools such as University of Phoenix Online, the enrollment from 2008-2009 had increased by 22%. 

These products also include learning devices such as Rosetta Stone, children's tablets from vTech which help enhance reading and talking for young children. Some parents have solely used e-learning with their children to protect them from bullying in public schools. I think that this could be a helpful tool for children to get ahead in school at a young age but I also believe that children should be put in school so that they can experience social interaction. As for adult e-learning is a great thing because it allows you to further your education on your own schedule and from home.   

Source: http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2010/03/03/The-Future-of-E-Learning-Is-More-Growth.aspx?Page=1

E-Training for Primary Teachers

     From the article 'Francophone Africa: E-training for Primary Teachers' from the University World News, a great example of what I see as an untraditional use of E-training and its positive impact on the world. The piece discusses and introduces an experiment focused on e-training. This is a pilot program that is being used to educate and improve the skills primary school teachers in three African countries. By using written, multimedia, and internet resources through this e-training program, over 3,000 teachers are getting further education, which in turn will obviously educate the youth of these places more productively.
     This article shows a very different perspective than what I think most people would typically think that e-training is used for. Instead of big business and the labor force, maybe improving the lives of people. It is no shock that many of the countries in Africa probably do not have the most resources or the best educated teachers. This is a great example of a way to use e-training as a tool to help people with less opportunity and make a huge impact on their lives. What are some other ways that e-training could develop programs that would change lives of people all over the world through things like education?

Source: http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20100617190838649

E-Learning and E-Training: An Overview

E-Learning is defined as an Internet based teaching system according to Dictionary.com
E-Training, on the other hand, has no clear definition, it is something that varies depending on how it is being used. Some people would say that e-training means that it involves a job, i.e. learning a skill to perform a job for your employer, while others may say that it is basically learning to do something via the Internet, computer programs etc. So under that "definition" I would believe that anything and everything that you learn from the use of technology could be considered e-learning simply because it is not your standard face-to-face learning or learning through doing. 


In today's technologically dependant society, e-learning and e-training are becoming more and more popular methods of training employees and students alike. For instance, online universities are growing and growing every year, it is easier for many students to do their learning on their own time rather than sitting in a classroom for hours a week learning something that they can potentially learn just as well through the Internet or a specified website through the school.

So... Here is the million dollar question:
Should employers and schools/professors be more personally invested in students and employees learning experiences or is the new trends of e-learning and e-training a good thing for us as far as correctly and efficiently learning to do the tasks that are asked of us?