Get Smart: The Pluses and Minuses of E-Learning

Jean Paul Balajadia, senior engineer with the San Francisco consulting firm Alfa Tech, wanted to update his project management skills, but like most of us, he's a busy guy. "I didn't have time to juggle an instructor-led class into my schedule, so I looked at e-learning." A friend suggested the training site Headlight.com. Balajadia found a free course offered there, so he enrolled. He was impressed with the training he received from the class and recommended the site to his company as a way to train employees. "We are looking for innovative ways, including Web-based learning, to provide continuing education to our staff," he says.

Busy, cost-conscious managers like Balajadia have good reason to be excited about e-learning. Online classes are easier than regular off-site courses to fit into a packed schedule, and some sites offer inexpensive or free tutorials in such useful topics as business software. But like most hot technologies--and most course topics--e-learning is more complicated than what you might expect.