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E-Learning Defined

E-learning--also known as online learning, Web-based training, computer-based training, and distance learning--comes to you via the Internet, and it's a booming business. In the past few years, a flurry of sites aimed at large and small companies have appeared, offering instruction on everything from software applications to project management training.

Proponents of e-learning tout its cost-effectiveness and convenience and point out that the course materials can be delivered in various ways directly to your desktop. For example, you can take a course led by a live instructor, where you can pose questions and participate in a discussion with the teacher in real time. Or you can choose to navigate a self-paced course at your own convenience.

But do online classes adequately substitute for on-site courses? To find out what all the cheerleading is about, I surveyed several e-learning sites. I sorted out the different types of training sites available, scrutinized some of the classes these sites offer, and isolated the pros and cons of the most popular sites (see the features chart). To help you choose from the daunting multitude of courses on the Web, I point out what to look for when picking an online class.

I discovered several things about e-learning. For one, course materials and prices for a class on the same subject can vary widely. A complete Excel 2000 course at one site may cost $267; but at another site, the Excel 2000 class may be divided into smaller components, and each lesson may cost as little as $20. Compared to a traditional instructor-led class priced at $385 in the San Francisco Bay Area, e-learning looks like a bargain.

I found scores of e-learning sites on the Internet, most of which fall into two basic categories: service providers and content providers. Service providers (sometimes referred to as portals) partner with businesses and provide a locus where students can find an array of training-related resources. Content providers, on the other hand, develop and sell custom-designed training courses in response to specific information the customer provides. Customized packages may include provisions for student assessments, such as performance tracking and progress reports. Businesses use this information to measure whether their training investment increases productivity and/or profits.

Which kind of course fits which business? If you seek specialized training for your employees on company-specific information such as sales and marketing procedures, a content provider will suit you best. On the other hand, if you need stand-alone, general-interest courses in areas such as word processing, spreadsheets, or Web-page design, you need a service provider. Keep in mind though, that the line between the two categories is becoming increasingly blurred, and some sites offer both types of training.

Hungry Minds is a good example of a service provider. Like most portals, Hungry Minds (recently purchased by IDG, PC World's parent company) takes an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to e-learning. Through Hungry Minds' partnership with businesses like Amazon.com and schools like the University of California at Berkeley Extension, you can pursue your entire e-learning experience via this one Web site. The site offers 17,000 courses categorized into three broad topic areas. Hungry Minds also lets you order textbooks, interact with classmates via threaded discussions or real-time chats on Blackboard.com, and get help studying for university entrance exams with Examweb.com. The cost of taking a Microsoft Word course ranges from free up to $100.

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