E-Learning or Digital Learning
E-Learning is often touted as the panacea for many learning interventions. The flexibility of access in the dimensions of time and space make it alluring to organizations. However, in these times of AI and Machine learning, the question that begs our attention is the relevance of E-Learning. E-Learning for all its worth is just a change of platform removing the dimensions of space and time while addressing scalability and achieving standardization in delivery. This is akin to computerization at its best. It is like choosing to go from manual calculations to doing excel sheets. What is really required is digitization.
So, the question – Is E-learning relevant? An oversimplification of looking at E-Learning might appear as a mere interaction with a pre-defined program and limited content. The change in experience being attributed to the instructional design based on gamification. The interaction and exploration of knowledge, beyond the module is limited. Learning in such scenarios continues to be guided and not personalized, impacting the efficacy. There is a need to allow the learner to explore content beyond the module.
The need of the hour is Digital Learning. A platform with which the learner interacts and the system responds to the various questions and explores other points of view and leaves the learner free to learn and gain a wider perspective. This customizes learning. The learner is free to learn more of the subject and the learning is more deep rooted as it is one guided by curiosity. It is a known fact that we remember random facts which we learn out of curiosity. Curiosity is what guided our learning as children. This also addresses the key aspect of involvement. Greater the curiosity, greater the involvement in the subject and greater the learning. We are different in our approaches to learning and digital learning will adopt to our style of learning. I do not advocate it as a panacea for learning interventions. The panacea is the ability to raise the curiosity to learn. The rest is facilitated by the system. I think it is time E-Learning began to evolve into Digital learning. A platform forged out of AI ( Artificail Intelligence) and Machine Learning.
I await your comments.
