The E-Learning

      Domain

Many educational institutions all over the world are facing the  mammoth task of meeting the increasing demands of education, especially at college and university level. Considering the large proportion of young Malaysians aspiring to study beyond secondary school, policy has shifted from an elitist system where only a few could pursue post-secondary education  to the democratisation of education where college and university education has been made more accessible.

In the workplace, significant changes are taking place with the onset of globalisation and the emergence of the knowledge economy.  Business and industry have to ensure that their workforce constantly learn, unlearn and relearn to remain competitive and viable.

The advent of the internet has provided an alternative to the traditional method of delivering  education and various terms have been used such as e-learning, web-based learning,  internet based instruction, distributed learning, distance learning, online learning and so forth. E-Learning, a widely used term, has been touted as the wave of the future in delivering education anywhere and anytime in the light of internet connection, broadband and affordable hardware. E-Learning has been estimated as  a billion ringgit industry that is increasingly being exploited by educational institutions, business organisations, industrial organisations, government agencies and the military.

The E-Learning Domain introduces readers to the 7 Facets of eLearning which includes notes, relevant articles, online journals, self-tests, discussion of issues and other resources for better understanding this growing area of study in the field of instructional technology.

"E-learning is to classroom learning as cell phones are to a pay phone at a station"

     - Lee Ann Obringer

ENIAC The Computer in 1946

To provide a comprehensive understanding of E-Learning, seven facets of the concept are examined:

-  its concept,

-  the technologies needed for 

  delivery of content,

-  the design and development of

  content,

-  the psychological theories 

  underlying eLearning,

-  the human factors that

  need to be considered to

  ensure success,

-  the business model and marketing

  strategies for introducing

  eLearning.

-  and the management of eLearning

  to sustain its growth.

Prof. John Arul Phillips

Department of Curriculum & Instructional Technology, Faculty of Education, University of Malaya.

E-learning is "the delivery of content via all electronic media, including the internet, intranets, extranets, satellite broadcast, audio/video tape, interactive TV and CD-ROM"

     - C. Weeegen & T. Urdan (2000)