First of all because of the ever existing gap between knowledge and skills you gather at school and that what you need in business. To close this gap companies offer in-house or external trainings and courses to further develop employee knowledge and skills.

Another reason why learning is important is the fact that continuously new methods, tools, technology and other changes affect our work environment. Learning is therefore also a means to keep pace with all these changes.

… And E-learning is a logical next move.

We all value the importance of learning, but when a company’s results is under pressure, spending on learning and trainings are normally the first to be cut.

And this is a good reason to search for efficiency in the learning business. E-learning could then be very well the answer; it will save on transport costs and on time. Both are valuable incentives to change the learning environment from a traditional training centre with teachers, to a online situation where the course (material) is managed virtually through the internet (web based learning).

The acceptance of internet as a mature communication medium was a previous requirement for the success of e-learning. Attending an online course is a much more solitary operation and that is not acceptable by everyone. Some people favour a face to face contact as a learning environment.

Also, the educational material is different in an e-learning environment. It is not possible nor enough to merely copy a teachers syllabus to a series of WebPages and scroll your mouse. In the end, the question about what is cheaper is not easy to make, but the time saving by less travel cost will remain.

© 2006 Hans Bool

About the Author:
Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White (http://www.astorwhite.com/) a traditional management consulting company that offers online management tools. Have a look at some of our free management tools (http://www.astorwhite.com/en/service_online_statistics.php)
Tag: E-learning Rise

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That a typical LMS software cannot survive for more than two years is conceded by almost all LMS experts and analysts. This fact makes the concept of ROI all the more important. Switching from one LMS to the other, every two years, often involves a lot of money, not to mention the rigmarole of going through the selection process, custom programming, installation and implementation all over again. This curtails organizations from switching to other LMSs, despite their performance glitches. Considering this, the first attempt at selecting the right LMS needs to be given extra thought, which, in turn, mounts up the pressure of getting the process right for a first-timer.

Choosing the right LMS
The mere comprehension of the significance of the job at hand is half the battle won. If this is achieved, the decision maker will meticulously plan all his moves lest something goes wrong. Though there are no set rules to go about the selection process, a generalized guideline might prove to be of some help. Look out for the following in your LMS software.

Interoperability
Interoperability is the ability of the LMS software to support other database driven software, third party content and authoring tools. An LMS having a high interoperability is the obvious choice. Find out if the LMS supports ERP systems, or other synchronous e-learning systems. Also check if the data generated and saved by this LMS software becomes redundant if the organization decides to switch to another LMS or successive LMS software from the same vendor.

Application Service Provider (ASP) form
This is a new approach to managing the LMS software, wherein either the vendor, or any other party takes up the management of the IT and infrastructure. It also allows the client to choose between buying and renting an LMS. This is definitely an expensive option, but a good one nonetheless, particularly when the organization is in haste or is not predominantly technology competent. Moreover, it buys time for the organization to review upcoming trends in the LMS software by allowing it to put off the decision of buying it rightaway.

Estimation of costs
Comparing prices of different LMSs is a Herculean task, but definitely not a redundant one. With vague price structures reining the market, vendors come up with varied arrangements of per-seat, per-use, or per-employee pricing, etc. But a thorough analysis of varied pricing policies will assist you in comparing the prices offered by vendors in regard of the features and compatibility of the software with your organization’s IT infrastructure.

Elimination of vendors
Elimination of vendors offering widely off-the-mark products is a good way of boiling down to a selected few, who offer choices that suit your organization the best. This makes it easy for sifting through your list, comparing products and prices. A consolidation process already in progress in the LMS market is expected to take care of the elimination needs within a few years.

IT compatibility
The integration of the LMS software with the existing IT infrastructure of your company can be daunting. Incorporating the software with the systems of different departments is the not everybody’s cup of tea. IT experts, therefore, need to actively participate in the process of evaluation of the LMS software to see if it can be adapted to the existing infrastructure. It takes high end custom programming to seamlessly blend the LMS software within the system.

Gauging the ROI
The purchase of an LMS calls for a great investment both in terms of time and money. Moreover, the software is most likely to die a natural death after completing its pre decided life span. This makes it important to track and assess the Return on Investment (ROI) for the program. Clearly define the expected ROI of the initiative and approximately assess the value of the software in terms of ROI. Also find out when will the process of ROI set into motion? Will it be within the lifetime of the LMS or after that?

Wrap-up
There can be many more considerations that need to be taken into account for selecting an LMS for your company, with the above ones amounting only for the broad factors that govern the decision. Nonetheless, they will take you a long way in zeroing upon the best one for your organization.

Viswanath Shankar has been managing and maintaining various e-learning softwares for the past decade and a half. A storehouse of knowledge about LMS (Learning Management Systems) (http://www.lmswizdom.com/).

About the Author:
He has been working in close co-ordination with web development experts (http://www.blueappleonline.com/) to develop user friendly distance learning programs. It takes a professional like him to declare the big time arrival of e learning as a worthy substitute to conventional learning techniques.
Tag: Learning Management System
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That a typical LMS software cannot survive for more than two years is conceded by almost all LMS experts and analysts. This fact makes the concept of ROI all the more important. Switching from one LMS to the other, every two years, often involves a lot of money, not to mention the rigmarole of going through the selection process, custom programming, installation and implementation all over again. This curtails organizations from switching to other LMSs, despite their performance glitches. Considering this, the first attempt at selecting the right LMS needs to be given extra thought, which, in turn, mounts up the pressure of getting the process right for a first-timer.

Choosing the right LMS
The mere comprehension of the significance of the job at hand is half the battle won. If this is achieved, the decision maker will meticulously plan all his moves lest something goes wrong. Though there are no set rules to go about the selection process, a generalized guideline might prove to be of some help. Look out for the following in your LMS software.

Interoperability
Interoperability is the ability of the LMS software to support other database driven software, third party content and authoring tools. An LMS having a high interoperability is the obvious choice. Find out if the LMS supports ERP systems, or other synchronous e-learning systems. Also check if the data generated and saved by this LMS software becomes redundant if the organization decides to switch to another LMS or successive LMS software from the same vendor.

Application Service Provider (ASP) form
This is a new approach to managing the LMS software, wherein either the vendor, or any other party takes up the management of the IT and infrastructure. It also allows the client to choose between buying and renting an LMS. This is definitely an expensive option, but a good one nonetheless, particularly when the organization is in haste or is not predominantly technology competent. Moreover, it buys time for the organization to review upcoming trends in the LMS software by allowing it to put off the decision of buying it rightaway.

Estimation of costs
Comparing prices of different LMSs is a Herculean task, but definitely not a redundant one. With vague price structures reining the market, vendors come up with varied arrangements of per-seat, per-use, or per-employee pricing, etc. But a thorough analysis of varied pricing policies will assist you in comparing the prices offered by vendors in regard of the features and compatibility of the software with your organization’s IT infrastructure.

Elimination of vendors
Elimination of vendors offering widely off-the-mark products is a good way of boiling down to a selected few, who offer choices that suit your organization the best. This makes it easy for sifting through your list, comparing products and prices. A consolidation process already in progress in the LMS market is expected to take care of the elimination needs within a few years.

IT compatibility
The integration of the LMS software with the existing IT infrastructure of your company can be daunting. Incorporating the software with the systems of different departments is the not everybody’s cup of tea. IT experts, therefore, need to actively participate in the process of evaluation of the LMS software to see if it can be adapted to the existing infrastructure. It takes high end custom programming to seamlessly blend the LMS software within the system.

Gauging the ROI
The purchase of an LMS calls for a great investment both in terms of time and money. Moreover, the software is most likely to die a natural death after completing its pre decided life span. This makes it important to track and assess the Return on Investment (ROI) for the program. Clearly define the expected ROI of the initiative and approximately assess the value of the software in terms of ROI. Also find out when will the process of ROI set into motion? Will it be within the lifetime of the LMS or after that?

Wrap-up
There can be many more considerations that need to be taken into account for selecting an LMS for your company, with the above ones amounting only for the broad factors that govern the decision. Nonetheless, they will take you a long way in zeroing upon the best one for your organization.

Viswanath Shankar has been managing and maintaining various e-learning softwares for the past decade and a half. A storehouse of knowledge about LMS (Learning Management Systems) (http://www.lmswizdom.com/).

About the Author:
He has been working in close co-ordination with web development experts (http://www.blueappleonline.com/) to develop user friendly distance learning programs. It takes a professional like him to declare the big time arrival of e learning as a worthy substitute to conventional learning techniques.
Tag: Learning Management System
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First of all because of the ever existing gap between knowledge and skills you gather at school and that what you need in business. To close this gap companies offer in-house or external trainings and courses to further develop employee knowledge and skills.

Another reason why learning is important is the fact that continuously new methods, tools, technology and other changes affect our work environment. Learning is therefore also a means to keep pace with all these changes.

… And E-learning is a logical next move.

We all value the importance of learning, but when a company’s results is under pressure, spending on learning and trainings are normally the first to be cut.

And this is a good reason to search for efficiency in the learning business. E-learning could then be very well the answer; it will save on transport costs and on time. Both are valuable incentives to change the learning environment from a traditional training centre with teachers, to a online situation where the course (material) is managed virtually through the internet (web based learning).

The acceptance of internet as a mature communication medium was a previous requirement for the success of e-learning. Attending an online course is a much more solitary operation and that is not acceptable by everyone. Some people favour a face to face contact as a learning environment.

Also, the educational material is different in an e-learning environment. It is not possible nor enough to merely copy a teachers syllabus to a series of WebPages and scroll your mouse. In the end, the question about what is cheaper is not easy to make, but the time saving by less travel cost will remain.

© 2006 Hans Bool

About the Author:
Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White (http://www.astorwhite.com/) a traditional management consulting company that offers online management tools. Have a look at some of our free management tools (http://www.astorwhite.com/en/service_online_statistics.php)
Tag: E-learning Rise

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Today’s employment competition is stiff, but modern innovations like the Internet are beginning to deliver excellent higher education options to a global market through online degree programs. Distance learning degree programs include online associate degrees, Online Bachelor Degrees, and many other academic opportunities.

Good examples of some Online Bachelor Degrees provided through distance learning schools include undergraduate Online Bachelor Degrees in the arts and sciences. Of those, the more readily available Online Bachelor Degrees include extensive programs in computer science, criminal justice, information technology, accounting, psychology, global studies, information systems, health care management, business administration, and numerous others.

While Online Bachelor Degrees are offered through a variety of online schools, it is important to remember to carefully review prerequisites prior to applying to any online degree program. In most cases, Online Bachelor Degrees offered through e-learning and/or traditional schools will expect the student to have previously acquired some form of post secondary education. This means that students should have attained their associate degrees either online or through a traditional vocational school before enrolling in colleges offering Online Bachelor Degrees.

As established, Online Bachelor Degrees encompass various course programs geared toward educating prospective candidates for a myriad of occupations. Of those, Online Bachelor Degrees in computer science and information technology seem to be some of the most popular. These Online Bachelor Degrees can help students enhance the possibility of acquiring professional employment in the fields of software design, development and maintenance, information desktop management, database administration, network support, and countless others.

Because people are living busy lives, with many trying to earn a living and attain a college education at once, Online Bachelor Degrees offered through distance learning universities and colleges can afford these folks with flexible educational opportunities to improve livelihood and personal growth. According to the US Department of Labor Statistics in a report on average annual percent growths in inflation-adjusted hourly earnings, those who have obtained traditional or Online Bachelor Degrees have a higher annual percent growth in hourly earnings than those who have not. This is one of the best examples of why conventional Bachelor Degrees or Online Bachelor Degrees can earn you respect, higher wages, and more diverse career options.

If you are interested in learning more about Online Bachelor Degrees (http://www.schoolsgalore.com/categories/4/online_bachelor_degrees.html), Online Associate Degrees, and other Online Degree programs, please search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 – All Rights Reserved Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

About the Author:
Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Distance Learning Online Schools (http://www.schoolsgalore.com/categories/4/distance_learning_online_schools.html), Colleges, Universities, Trade Schools (http://schoolsgalore.com/categories/4/online_schools.html), and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com; your educational resource to locate schools.
Tag: Online Degree
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Online Education- Changing Perception

In the past people perceived online education as an unserious and unscrupulous way of laying hands of a fast degree and getting good grades without much effort and hard work. People also had doubts about the reputation of education institutes offering online education. However, the times have changes significantly and today the majority of educational institutions offering online education are well established. Most of the world’s leading education institutions have commenced online programs, which vindicate the validity of online education. Most of the online courses offer in-depth learning to the students in their respective educational modules.

Factors Contributing To The Growth of Online Education

Online education is becoming popular because most of the educational institutions offering online courses ensure qualitative learning. Talented professors and subject matter experts are at the helm of affairs at almost all accredited universities and colleges offering online courses and online degree programs. The students can be assured of good results in such courses.

Here are some factors that have contributed to the fast paced growth of online education:

· Flexible schedule

The biggest advantage of online education is that the students can do effective utilization of their time, which is the most precious resource. People participating in online education have the freedom of maintaining a flexible schedule, which helps them tremendously and it has come as a boon for the people who are working and want to continue their education.

· Student-Centered Learning

The students in online education have an advantage because they are in charge of their learning experience. The students can prioritize their schedule and complete the assignments as per their comfort levels and convenience. This is possible because the teachers in online mode of education are not teaching you all the time. As an online student, you have the liberty to select the mode of learning.

· Fair Playing Field

Online education is growing in popularity because it offers a level playing field to all the students. When you are learning online, your performance is the only criterion that affects the decision-making and your gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, and other considerations do not cloud the decision making process. This is one of the major factors contributing to the growth of online education.

All these advantages of online education may prompt you to join e learning. However, before you take the plunge and enroll in an online course, please make sure that you are familiar with the methodology of online education.

About the Author:
Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Online Education web site. For more articles and resources on Online Education related topics, Online Education Courses and degress visit his site at:

=>http://online-education.need-to-know.net/
Tag: e-learning trends
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But if you really want to start up an elearning company, it’s more than just those things. Elearning further encompasses

1. consulting with regard to program and strategy,

2. planning content,

3. managing system and software,

4. hosting and maintenance services,

5. multimedia production,

6. teaching

7. website solutions,

8. online evaluation tools

9. student advising.

The process is so huge that one single person simply cannot become an expert in all of it. Therefore, a team effort is strictly recommended in order to be successful in it. Hence the need for a consultant in elearning is mandatory.

Consulting an elearning expert should be the next step towards that business. Only consultants with several years of experience in elearning and specialization in the field can provide you with comprehensive proven-effective counsels and other associated services.

They will help you with the alignment of the learning objectives of individuals as well as the immediate or strategic objectives of your business or company. e-learning consultants will

- identify the organization’s initiatives and goals,

- analyze and assess the needs relative to the skill development requisites of your management and staff,

- establish course requirements to meet your business goals

- develop better objectives.

Assistance in planning and managing your elearning project is provided by them. They

- create a clearly defined business or strategic plan,

- assess the necessity and means of that plan,

- measure its outcome,

- outline possible solutions and consequences

- evaluate and implement your program.

We know that the success of any business is based on the knowledge of the person on that domain. Proper feasibility research or studies have to be done along with careful planning and strategies. Implementing and managing the business is another important task and technology has to be applied correctly according to the business needs.

About the Author:
Nic Haffner is a web publisher who likes to give his readers e learning articles and tips. Check out 1-Elearning.com for more advice on e learning solutions
Tag: E-learning consultant
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The word ‘blog’ is short for ‘web log’, and is mainly an online journal. People use it for private and public use, be it for recording their memories, posting articles or art, or even as a place to study with friends and post summaries. Nowadays, online college classes use blogs as a means to easily find out the deadlines for assignments, tests and where to get the newest material. It is usually maintained by the educator, but on occasion all the students have posting access. It can be either a forum or merely a page maintained by one person, perhaps even linking to the blogs of others.

As is the case with any new tool, blogs come with their own set of pros and cons. They are flexible and simple, and since they are very public it encourages thought before clicking the ‘send’ button. It is a good way to improve writing skills, both technical and creative, and encourages class discussions. It gives the shy students an opportunity to share their ideas without the fear of not being heard and it makes collaborations that much easier.

On the other hand, it takes time to keep a blog updated and maintained. Assignments done through blogs will not sound as professional as those received through other methods, and going off-topic in a class discussion happens more often than not. If a student requires a fast answer, an e-mail is much better than a comment on the professor’s blog, and they certainly do not offer the confidentiality sometimes required. They are a double-edged knife and require a careful balance that can’t be allowed to slip.

If the online college classes are taught by instructors who know how to keep everything organized, a blog can only be an asset to any course. However, it might be a good idea to teach all students who use a blog netiquette before starting.

About the Author:
Bestwebschool.com provides you with information on where you can get the best online college classes, from real estate to college classes. Come take a look at http://www.bestwebschool.com/
Tag: E-learning tools and solution
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It’s unfortunate, but true. Across many organisations, e-learning initiatives are being dogged by high mortality rates — and one doesn’t have to look very far to find the underlying reasons. The truth is closer to home than one might think, and that’s why it has so many managers and trainers squirming in discomfiture. Yes, the enemy is within… and most of them know it.

Strange as it may sound, the failure of many e-learning initiatives is traceable to ‘internal’ factors. If you want to set things right, here are some of the culprits you should watch out for:

The Learners Themselves

In most cases, it isn’t the learning that encounters resistance, it’s that little ‘e’ before it. Many organisations implement e-learning programmes without gaining insights into the learners’ comfort levels with computers and the Internet. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the learners feel that too much pressure is being put on them — “they want us to work, and they want us to undergo training, and now they want us to learn to use computers too!”

The only way to overcome this resistance, is to get a buy-in from the learners by offering the assurance that the organisation will take the responsibility of turning them into computer whizzes, thereby adding a valuable skill-set to their job profiles. Everyone knows the advantages offered by computer skills and nobody minds learning them — particularly when they know it’s for free.

A good example of this lies in an e-learning project handled by i-Strat for a global pharmaceutical major. To get its field force to use the new web-based learning and reporting system, the company put each employee through a crash course on Internet usage, conducted by a leader in the IT training space. Thereafter, every employee was given a cyber café membership with a daily quota of one hour. The actual reporting/learning took barely 15-20 minutes on a daily basis. The employees could use the rest of the time for checking their personal email, chatting, browsing, etc. At the end of a 12-month period, employees were polled on whether they would prefer to return to the old (manual) system. Not unexpectedly, they voted overwhelmingly in favour of the online system.

The Trainers Themselves

Well, not all trainers, to be fair — but it is now a proven fact that trainers of the old school of thought felt threatened by new media. Like so many before them, they thought their job function would be usurped by computers. Because of this, they thwarted the implementation of e-learning systems in many ways.

Sometimes it took the form of outright rejection, but most of the time it was a sort of silent resistance. Either way, the ultimate intention was the same — to be able to tell the management: “Hey! This new stuff isn’t working, you know. Let’s go back to the good old way of doing things.” It’s a fairly common story, but one really can’t blame the trainers. The problem is actually attributable to a systemic failure. Once again, it’s about not getting a buy-in from the designated implementers of the e-learning system. The right way to go about this would be to initiate a ‘Train The Trainer’ programme that seeks to re-skill the trainers, thereby empowering them to drive the new computer/web-based training programmes with greater effectiveness.

So if your e-learning initiatives are running into rough weather, it’s perhaps a good idea to look inwards to uncover the underlying causes. And if you do happen to spot the enemy within, a few simple corrective measures are all that it takes to transform the erstwhile foe in a powerful ally.

About the Author:
Ref:-http://www.istrat-india.com

This news release is entirely a personal opinion. It should not be misconstrued as an advice. For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release (or for a sample, copy or demo), contact:- sarvadarshi@nmicro.com
Tag: e-learning intentions sabotaged

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1. Have a really good think about what you want to achieve. It may sound obvious, but there might be a temptation to pick a course you don’t really need. If, for example, you just want to visit Shanghai because you saw the skyline in Mission Impossible 3, you might decide you need lessons in Chinese. But do you need Mandarin or Cantonese? Do you want to know a set of traveler’s phrases (enough to ask directions, order meals and go shopping) or do you want something a little deeper? The answers will determine what courses you should look at.

2. Find the program you need to follow. Where to look for your distance education course? Online is an obvious contender. Magazines devoted to the subject you’re interested in are another. Such courses will appear in the classified advertisement section, or, if they’re really popular, somewhere among the editorial. They’ll usually be smallish box ads (though not necessarily: Linguaphone have been known to take out much larger display adverts)

3. Ask yourself if accredited distance learning programs are what you should be considering. Accreditation may be important, depending on what you’re setting out to achieve.

4. Consider how you’ll plan and manage an e-learning program or correspondence course. You will be making a commitment of time and money, and on top of that, you’ll be putting in some work. If you’re following an e-learning program, will you have access to a computer when you need it? These things will need some thought on your part.

5. Arrange the money. You may have to arrange a loan via your bank, or, if the course is a long and expensive one (and depending on your status), a student loan.

6. Arrange the time. YOu can’t just decide you’ll lock yourself away for two hours a week and study: if other people share your life, they’ll probably want to impinge on your time. Family members in your immediate household will need warning.

7. Approach your boss if the course is work-related. If you’re studying to improve your work prospects, let your boss know and ask if there’s any chance of help with the costs, some free time at work to study (a couple of hours a week, say), or perhaps a little leeway in your attendance if you need to be elsewhere for exams and the like (you’ll make the time up later, obviously)

8. Take the plunge! Sign up for that course!

9. Have some counter-measure in place for when enthusiasm dips. No article on how to initiate a distance learning course would be complete without mentioning that after about four weeks of hard work, you’ll experience the occasional dip in enthusiasm. It’s important to have some means of to keeping motivated. A good trick is to write out your goals (see point 1 above). Next to each goal, write why it’s important to achieve it. Then, when you feel enthusiasm flagging, get out your list and remind yourself why you’re doing this.

And there you have it: nine tips to get you off to a flying start in your distance-learning program. Good luck, and enjoy the journey!

About the Author:
Roger White is passionate about learning. He believes education is one of the things the world will always need more of, even after we’ve got the other big problems sorted out. His website http://www.DistanceLearning4All.com contains many info and how-to features and articles related to bettering yourself. Pay a visit now!
Tag: Distance education
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