Electronic Cognition: Many Early Adopters of E-Learning Have Got So Excited about the New Technology That They Have Forgotten the Basics of Learning. Alan Waterfield Recommends a More Balanced Approach. (People Management)

Beginning of article

E-learning is yet another market that, according to the usual suspects, is destined to grow into a multi-billion-pound industry in the next three years. It's the hottest topic in training, and its proponents say that it will revolutionise how people learn and transform the economics of the process. But, given the current climate of narrowing margins and tightening budgets, is it something you can't afford to ignore or simply something you can't afford?

E-learning represents the move of training away from the classroom and on to the desktop PC or mobile device using a range of electronic media, including the internet. Its supporters paint a compelling picture of the benefits: reduced operational costs; the delivery of bite-sized chunks of knowledge where and when required; increased control over how the information is …