1 e-Learning, virtual learning and online learning

Learning: Learning is the act of acquiring new, or modifying and reinforcing, existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information.

Human learning may occur as part of education, personal development, schooling, or training. It may be oriented and may be aided by motivation. Learning may be viewed as a process, rather than a collection of factual and procedural knowledge. Learning produces changes in the organism and the changes produced are relatively permanent. 

Learning practices in institutions can be either traditional classroom learning with the presence of teachers or it may be digital learning with the use of digitally assisted environments in the classroom, which includes the use of digital technologies. These days traditional learning and digital learning have been transformed into e-learning where the idea is to conduct teaching-learning practices over an online platform like the internet. With e-learning, the idea is to enforce virtual learning environments.

E-learning: 

E-learning is the continuous assimilation of knowledge and skills by adults stimulated by synchronous and asynchronous learning events—and sometimes Knowledge Management outputs—which are authored, delivered, engaged with, supported, and administered using a computer and/or internet technologies. 

E-learning marshals computer and network technologies to the task of education. E-learning is the use of information and computer technologies to create learning experiences. Thus e-learning is online access to learning resources, anywhere, and anytime.

E-learning facilitates education via the Internet, network, or standalone computer. E-learning is essentially the network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge. E-learning refers to using electronic applications and processes to learn. E-learning applications and processes include Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classrooms, and digital collaboration. Content is delivered via the Internet, intranet/extranet, audio or videotape, satellite TV, and CD-ROM.

Electronic Learning is "learning facilitated by technology that gives students some element of control over time, place, path and/or pace”.

• Time: Learning is no longer restricted to the school day or the school year. The Internet and the proliferation of Internet access devices have given students the ability to learn anytime.

• Place: Learning is no longer restricted within the walls of a classroom. The Internet and the proliferation of Internet access devices have given students the ability to learn anywhere and everywhere.

• Path: Learning is no longer restricted to the pedagogy used by the teacher. Interactive and adaptive software allows students to learn in their own style, making learning personal and engaging. New learning technologies provide real-time data that gives teachers the information they need to adjust instruction to meet the unique needs of each student.

• Pace: Learning is no longer restricted to the pace of an entire classroom of students. Interactive and adaptive software allows students to learn at their own pace, spending more or less time on lessons or subjects to achieve the same level of learning.

Electronic learning is more than just providing students with a laptop. Electronic learning requires a combination of technology, digital content, and instruction.

• Technology: Technology is the mechanism that delivers content. It facilitates how students receive content. It includes Internet access and hardware, which can be any Internet access device – from a desktop to a laptop to an iPad to a smartphone. Technology is the tool, not the instruction.

• Digital Content: Digital content is the high-quality academic material that is delivered through technology. It is what students learn. It ranges from new engaging, interactive, and adaptive software to classic literature to video lectures to games. It isn’t simply a PDF of the text or PowerPoint presentations, it may span web pages, mobile app contents.

• Instruction: Educators are essential to digital learning. Technology may change the role of the teacher but it will never eliminate the need for a teacher. With digital learning, teachers will be able to provide personalized guidance and assistance to ensure students learn and stay on track