Is E-Learning a Tool of the Present or a Fantasy for the Future?

Journal for Quality and Participation, The, Winter 2003 by Masie, Elliott

* Business units driving learning. The largest pushes are coming from revenue growth units that are turning to e-learning as a method of driving sales or providing rapid service. More action is happening from business units than we are seeing from HR and training directors.

* Standards are real. XML and SCORM are two standards that are making the development and deployment of learning objects widespread.

* Getting ready for net services. More and more e-learning will be integrated into net and Web services, rather than accessed from learning-dedicated applications.

* Growing collaboration. Follow the path of Web-based collaboration to see one of the rapidly growing segments of learning.

About Elliott Masie

Elliott Masie is a pioneer in the fields of technology, learning, and organizational development. In the past 27 years, Masie has provided leadership, insight, and perspective to organizations as they cope with the integration of technology into their businesses.

Masie's professional focus has been to demystify the world of technology in order to allow organizations to use their wisdom and resources to make key choices. he has developed models for disseminating technology throughout organizations, provided work force literacy on computers, and developed approaches to changing information technology systems with an emphasis on ensuring quality learning and communication as new tools are used to distribute information.

Masie was recently appointed by the president to a White House task force on technology issues. he is the author of a dozen books, including The Computer Training Handbook, and he is the editor of TechLearn Trends, an internet briefing for business executives. Masie also writes for Learning Decisions, an interactive newsletter from The MASIE Center.

In 1999, Masie received the American Society for Training & Development's award for Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance. Other recipients of this award have included Margaret Wheatley, Gloria Gery, Peter Senge, Kenneth Blanchard, R. Roosevelt Thomas Jr., and Peter Block.