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E-Learning
Advantages/Disadvantages

E-Learning Advantages

Accommodate multiple learning styles. Through the use of media, text and even live technology mediated interactions.
Offer individualized instruction through assessment and remediation addressing the learner�s needs.
Provide self-paced instruction for learners wanting to move ahead or learners that wanting extra practice.
Offer on-demand access to learning when needed. The learner determines when he/she wants to learn.
Allow collaborative learning so learners do not feel isolated and maximize learning.
Engages users with stimulating content and interactivity that teaches and reinforces.
Increase retention by using reinforcers more consistently than other approaches.
Increase consistency when the learning is captured and delivered by technology.
Reduce learning time according to recent research (Web-based training cookbook, 1997, p.108)
Track learners and provide proof of their work and skill development.

E-Learning Disadvantages

Investment -- E-learning is a capital intensive endeavor and its costs are often underestimated.
Reduced face to face interactions �- E-learning can be isolating if care is not taken to balance the learning modalities. While adult learners can often adapt, young or traditional age learners should have a balanced learning approach with enough interaction.
Dependency on technology -- Technology can be a blessing or a curse as it requires resourced, a certain know-how from the learner, and maintenance.
Inappropriate match of technology, content, objectives, and approach -- Appropriate instruction requires a 4 way match between the technology, the nature of the content and how its presented, the objectives that must lend themselves to the �e� medium, and the approach taken to produce learning. If any of these fails E-Learning is suboptimal or perhaps worse.

CD ROM Advantages

Graphics may be embedded, in larger number, and with larger file formats than on the web.

Use of executable files (programs) can make a CD Rom have features difficult to accomplish on the web including realistic simulations.
Reduced costs as a CD ROM might be used by many learners and the media is cheap to replicate.

Note: DVDs share many of the advantages and disadvantages with CDs. The main edge of DVDs over CDs is, of course, the much greater capacity.

CD ROM Disadvantages

Lack of face to face interaction with instructor and peers
Inability to update the content as in web based instruction. If you have highly changing content CD might not be appropriate.
More costly distribution than web based learning due to the need to mail the CD.
Student management is not available as on the web where the instructor in many systems the instructor can log in and see where each learner has been and how much they have accomplished. This can be resolved but it requires a hybrid approach including the CD ROM and an external database usually accessed over the web.
Challenge saving note and bookmarks-- saving user data onto the CD Rom is not possible. This can also be overcome with the use of a hybrid approach.

Web Advantages

Accessibility: learners can access the content anywhere there is an Internet connection
Human interaction: with chat, desktop conferencing, e-mail, forums and blogs learners can reach high levels of interactivity and even intimacy with others providing an high level and, if handled right, high quality human interaction.
Interactivity: Web based learning may provide high level of interactivity and response to the individual learner.
Cost effective: Once the learning has been developed it can be reused. How cost effective depends on the nature of the teaching approach (instructor lead, self paced, etc.).
Learning style flexible: Web based learning can be designed to serve all learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic).
Learner tracking: Web based learning systems can easily track student progress.
Learning object based: Content can be effectively displayed and effectively reused by employing a learning object based approach highly compatible with web-based instruction.
Synchronous or Asynchronous: Enabling the marriage of approaches to meet instructional objectives.
Customizable: Web content can be customizable by user selected preferences, for example.

Web Disadvantages

Bandwidth: The biggest single problem with the web is the bandwidth available. As technology progresses this will be less of an issues but even today with DSL lines and Cable, the web is slow compared to other media. This seriously limits what is possible on the web.