elearningtools.com

Let me prepare you from the very beginning that apart from elearning tools, this blog will also be discussing elearning techniques and concepts, which though yet cannot be called as tools but sometimes perform similar function of providing structure and building automation.

Now let me come back to the original question, what are elearning tools? From emails, podcasts, blogs, netmeeting, to authoring tools, CMS, LCMS and gaming simulation all come under the category of elearning tools.

According to John Zelenak, “E-learning tools come in three main flavors; a content/course or learning management system (CMS/LMS), synchronous collaboration applications, and all other computer tools/applications including asynchronous collaboration applications. Game play or game simulation software is rapidly becoming the fourth type of readily accepted e-learning tool.”

Every computer application or software has the potential of being used in elearning. That does not make it a elearning tool. I will describe in the next post what elearning tools basically are.

Tools are a smart way of doing things. Automation or using tools saves a lot of time an cost which is so much required in the elearning industry. A simple example of a tool of daily use is the ’spell check’ of Microsoft Word. In this blog i would be discussing two types of tools, content related and production related.

Basically, this process is used throughout the world in elearning companies. They might customize it for the client also, e.g. if the client wants a prototype first then the whole process will not be followed rigourously and once the client is satisfied the well established process will be used.

In layman terms, there are two modes of elearning: Computer-based and Web-based. Computer based learning is delivered through CD ROMs while Internet is the main mode of delivery in case of web based learning.

In case anyone wants a more detailed explanation of the above concept please add a comment for that.

According to wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “Electronic learning (or e-Learning or eLearning) is a type of education where the medium of instruction is computer technology. No in-person interaction may take place in some instances. E-learning is used interchangeably in a wide variety of contexts. In companies, it refers to the strategies that use the company network to deliver training courses to employees. In the USA, it is defined as a planned teaching/learning experience that uses a wide spectrum of technologies, mainly Internet or computer-based, to reach learners at a distance. Lately in most Universities, e-learning is used to define a specific mode to attend a course or programmes of study where the students rarely, if ever, attend face-to-face for on-campus access to educational facilities, because they study on-line.”

Basically, the above para explains that elearning is a type of education where no face to face interaction takes place between the learner and the instructor.

We will get to elearning tools step by step, because before explaining the tools there are many basic things a novice should know or an expert might like to read again. I myself am no expert just trying my bit to put things into perspective.

Hi! My name is Charu Kapoor. Blogging has been my hobby for long now. There are many websites,which i don’t want to list right now, that have my signature words. I have been into elearning for long now so quite aware of the nitty gritties. This website is my dream website which will cater to a niche segment of elearning tools ina blog post manner. You are welcome to post your comments, opinions etc. to which i will reply as and when i get time. So three cheers to elearningtools.com!