E-learning for the non-computer savvy: Part Two

Hand-in-hand with e-learning are the efficient communication tools that sit alongside it. E-learners can contact their instructors through e-mail and instant messages, and because instructors are typically always online in case a student needs help, the response is near instantaneous.

Students can also contact their classmates through the same method, proving that the notion of online students lacking the social interactions of a normal classroom is just a myth.

E-learning’s effectiveness over classroom learning

In addition, online learning may actually be more effective than classroom learning. In 2009, the United States Department of Education published a study that indicated the superior learning capability of online students in comparison to their classroom counterparts. The study had two separate groups of students both learning the same thing, except that one did so online and the other in a traditional classroom setting. Overall, the study found that the e-learners performed better than the classroom students.

E-learning earns respect worldwide

Knowing that e-learning and classroom education is really not that different, and that those who learn online may actually do better in their classes than those who learn in a classroom, it only makes sense that e-learning is growing in popularity and gaining the respect of educators and eager students worldwide. In fact, Internet-user growth in Europe increased a whopping 352% in the last decade, according to the Internet World Stats Database. Today, with more than 58% of Europe online, you can expect to see even more evidence of e-learning becoming a celebrated way of encouraging education.