subject: Elearning Application: Powering Online Training And Education [print this page] E-learning or electronic learning refers to distant learning enabled by computers and internet technology. Though it started off with educational institutions offering online courses, e-learning is increasingly becoming common in the corporate world where it is used for internal training purposes. It is quite common for companies to have multiple offices in different locations and as such e-learning becomes a tool to impart training to employees working in different locations. The usage and popularity of e-learning in the learning industry as well as in the business world is increasing rapidly and powering e-learning are numbers of elearning application development companies. These applications have increased the effectiveness of online distant learning and many new applications are still developed to enhance the e-learning environment.
There are two main focus areas of elearning applications development: user interface for learning enhancement and communication enhancement. User interface for learning refers to the learning environment offered to the user. A student or a trainee requires documents and other learning materials and an e-learning application enables easy sharing of documents in all formats between the learners and trainer and among the learners. Such a solution facilitates quick and easy uploading and downloading features so that information is shared as in a classroom environment.
The second area of e-learning software development aimed at enhancing the communication between learners as well as between the learners and the trainer. This may include applications which facilitate group and one-on-one chat and web conferencing. Online chatting make possible instant communication within the group. It also enables the trainer to respond to queries immediately thereby enhancing the learning environment. Such online education application enables not only textual exchange but also exchanging of files. Web conferencing is a very important part of e-learning. By developing the right web conferencing application, learners and trainers can interact by using audio video facilities. The interaction is instantaneous and face to face. Web conferencing makes possible live training and also make possible live meetings and presentations.
With the development of new technologies and frameworks, more and sophisticated e-learning applications are likely to be developed in the near future.
