E-LEARNING

Introduction

Company background

Skillsoft
Is a leading provider of e-learning and performance support
solutions for global enterprises, government, education and
small to medium-sized businesses.
Was incorporated in Ireland on Aug. 8, 1989. On Sept. 6,
2002, SmartForce completed a merger with SkillSoft
Corporation, and on Nov. 19, 2002, the combined company
became known as SkillSoft PLC.
Help business organizations to maximize business
performance through a combination of comprehensive elearning content, online information resources, flexible
learning technologies and support services.
Provider of on demand e-learning and performance support
solutions for global enterprises, government, education and
small to medium-sized businesses.

EC application that exists in the

company
SkillSoft provides the most comprehensive and current content
offering in the e-learning industry, effectively covering the full range
of enterprise needs. One major foundation for effective corporate
learning development is the ready availability of high-quality learning
content.
SkillSoft content resources are the building blocks of effective
learning programs, whether they are used as-is or customized to
meet specific needs. Examples-:
B2G
U.S Army
The Army is constantly challenged with providing geographically
dispersed personnel with a wide range of business, information
technology, leadership, professionaland technical skills necessary to
excel on the job. Learn how partnering with SkillSoft has enabled the
Army to provide its soldiers with a consistent training solution that
transcends geographical challenges.

B2B2C
Castrol
To support selling of its Castrol SYNTEC motor oil, BP Lubricants
Americas authored a custom course to educate its extended
enterprise of internal and external learners about synthetic motor
oil.

B2E
Hilton hotel
Hilton selected 70 courses from SkillSoft's management, business
and IT curricula, which SkillSoft delivers to the company's
worldwide work force through SkillPort.

Explanation
about E-learning
Concept of EC applications
E-learning is a new education concept by using the Internet technology, it deliveries the digital
content, provides a learner-orient environment for the teachers and students. The e-learning
promotes the construction of life-long learning opinions and learning society.

E-learning is a new education concept; it may different from the old educational

concept.
Delivery of the digital content is the main characters of e-learning.
This definition extends the environment on the Internet. its mean that the

Internet provides a learning environment for the students and teachers. This
environment is learner-oriented, so we can throw out the thoughtsof
traditionally teacher-center's instruction in classroom.
As a new education system, it has been developed fast in china.
The e-learning plays more in high education for the reason of fast need of high
education.

Definition of E-learning
E-learning is basically boils down to learning that is facilitated
and supported via information and communications
technology (ICT). The American Society for Training and
Development (ASTD) defines e-learning as a broad set of
applications and processes which include web-based learning,
computer-based learning, virtual classrooms, and digital. Much
of this is delivered via the Internet, intranets, audio- and
videotape, satellite broadcast, interactive TV, and CD-ROM.
The definition of e-learning varies depending on the
organization and how it is used but basically it is involves
electronic means of communication, education, and training.

FRAMEWORK
Framework
Public policy
The American Council on Education, the major coordinating body for all the nation's higher education institutions,
seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues and to influence public policy
through advocacy, research, and program initiatives. ACE's College Credit Recommendation Service (ACE
CREDIT), connects workplace learning with colleges and universities by helping adults gain access to academic
credit at colleges and universities for formal courses and examinations taken in the workplace or other settings
outside traditional higher education.
ACE CREDIT has evaluated and recommended college credit for 41 SkillSoft learning programs, comprising over
500 course titles. A listing of approved courses is provided in the ACE-approved SkillSoft Courses document below.
Additional information about achieving ACE credit transcripts is provided in the ACE Q&A document.
People
Three thousand leading organizations from around the globe look to SkillSoft to maximize business performance
by providing learning and performance support solutions that connect corporate strategy and individuals.
Examples of them are:

Business organization
-Enables business organizations to maximize business performance through a combination of comprehensive elearning content, online information resources, flexible learning technologies and support services.

Business employee
-Skillsoft is a leading provider of business communication courseware as well as the other business and it skills.
This course provide organization employee with the multi-course learning paths such as business interpersonal
communication skills, business writing essentials, workplace conflict and etc.

College student
-provide them with learning programs that can be learn in their own choice of learning environment.

FRAMEWORK cont.
Business Partners
Channel partners
SkillSoft, designed their Channel Partner Program to enable them to meet their customers'
demands in today's multibillion-dollar training industry. As a world class
e-learning solutions
company, SkillSoft will partner with you to differentiate your business by building higher levels of
customer satisfaction, market share and profitability.
IT partners
SkillSoft's information technology partnerships allow them to deliver the highest-quality content in
the quickest way possible. SkillSoft has formed strong, frequently exclusive, working relationships
with prestigious partners that are acknowledged leaders in the IT software industry. In doing so,
they not only work closely with their partners but also co-develop much of the training courseware
in cooperation with them, utilizing their product plans, software and source materials. Establishing
strategic partnerships at this professional level helps SkillSoft to maintain course quality.
Support Service
SkillSoft's service philosophy is built on supporting customers in the achievement of their success.
their organization stands behind the goal of unparalleled service for the life of the relationship.
With one of the largest and most experienced service organizations in the industry, SkillSoft is well
positioned to support their clients wide range of needs. Every SkillSoft customer can feel secure in
the knowledge that there are experienced, reliable and accessible professionals to support their
efforts in designing, implementing and continuously enhancing a solution that meets the learning
objectives of their organization.

FRAMEWORK cont.
Standard Technical
Selectinge-learningcourseware isn't easy: there are a lot of providers
out there, and the amount of content to sort through can be
overwhelming. Here are some factors to consider when purchasing e
learning courseware:

Content authority and reliability

Little-known, cheap, knock-off products have made their way into
today's e learning courseware market. Look for an established vendor
with a sizable and satisfied customer base.

Scope of vendor's e learning courseware catalog

Most organizations have a wide range of training needs, spanning a
range from IT certification to "soft skills" such as project management
and leadership development. Seek an e learning courseware provider
who can meet all your current and anticipated needs so that your
employees benefit from interfacing with a consistent e learning
framework as they train in various competencies.

Challenges for Skillsoft

Awareness
Generally there is still a lack of awareness amongst the population,especially parents, of the effectiveness of elearning. Many parents feel the traditional learning mode is better.

Low Adoption Rate

Most institutions are keen to embrace e-learning. Nevertheless, issues like lack of e-content, inadequate
infrastructure coupled with the problem
of digital divide, has resulted in a relatively low adoption rate.

Bandwidth Issue And Connectivity

Engaging content requires a rich combination of multimedia components.However, due to bandwidth and
connectivity limitations, downloading of engaging content to the learners will be slow. This creates frustration
and
boredom among learners and affects the ease of learning.

Computer Literacy And Digital Divide

This is especially true in the rural areas. This hinders the
introduction and implementation of e-learning.

Difficulty in Engaging Learners Online

Engaging learners actively is one of the key factors in determining thesuccess of an e-learning program. Online
learning requires a very high degree of self-motivation which is found to be lacking among our learners.
Learners find it difficult to migrate from the traditional learning mode to the new e-learning mode.

Language Barrier
The extensive use of English in e-learning contents is also one of the factors that has hindered the success of elearning, especially in nonEnglish speaking countries like Malaysia. Many, who like to enrol in elearning
programs, are deterred from doing so as they are not confident with the contents in English.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of e-Learning to the Trainer or Organization
Some of the most outstanding advantages to the trainer or organization are:

Reduced overall costis the single most influential factor in adopting

e-learning. The
elimination of costs associated with instructor's salaries, meeting room rentals, and student travel,
lodging, and meals are directly quantifiable. The reduction of time spent away from the job by
employees may be the most positive offshoot.

Learning timesreduced,an average of 40 to 60 percent, as found by Brandon Hall (Web-based

Training Cookbook, 1997, p. 108).

Increased retentionand application to the job averages an increase of 25 percent over traditional
methods, according to an independent study by J.D. Fletcher (Multimedia Review,Spring 1991, pp.3342).

Consistent deliveryof content is possible with asynchronous, self-paced e-learning.

Expert knowledgeis communicated, but more importantly captured, with good e-learning and
knowledge management systems.

Proof of completion and certification,essential elements of training initiatives, can be automated.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages to the Learner
Along with the increased retention, reduced learning time, and other
aforementioned benefits to students, particular advantages of e-learning
include:

On-demand availabilityenables students to complete training

conveniently at off-hours or from home.

Self-pacingfor slow or quick learners reduces stress and increases

satisfaction.

Interactivityengages users, pushing them rather than pulling them

through training.

Confidencethat refresher or quick reference materials are available

reduces burden of responsibility of mastery.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Disadvantages to the Trainer or Organization

Up-front investmentrequired of an e-learning solution is larger due to

development costs. Budgets and cash flows will need to be negotiated.

Technology issuesthat play a factor include whether the existing

technology infrastructure can accomplish the training goals, whether
additional technology expenditures can be justified, and whether
compatibility of all software and hardware can be achieved.

Inappropriate contentfor e-learning may exist according to some

experts, though are limited in number. Even the acquisition of skills that
involve complex physical/motor or emotional components (for example,
juggling or mediation) can be augmented with e-learning.

Cultural acceptanceis an issue in organizations where student

demographics and psychographics may predispose them against using
computers at all, let alone for e-learning.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Disadvantages to the Learner
The ways in which e-learning may not excel over other training include:

Technology issuesof the learners are most commonly technophobia

and unavailability of required technologies.

Portabilityof training has become a strength of e-learning with the

proliferation of network linking points, notebook computers, PDAs, and
mobile phones, but still does not rival that of printed workbooks or
reference material.

Reducedsocial and cultural interaction can be a drawback. The

impersonality, suppression of communication mechanisms such as body
language, and elimination of peer-to-peer learning that are part of this
potential disadvantage are lessening with advances in communications
technologies.

Recommendations

Source of e-learning need to be

frequently updated.
More explanation for those lacks of
information towards e-learning.
Must suggest e-learning as a training
option.
Early implementation for school and
college.

Conclusions

Successful preparation for online learning is not significantly different

from classroom preparation. As with any new concept, however, it is
important for an instructor to communicate how existing practices
integrate with a new concept (in this case, learning online).
High dropout rates are not a function of the online learning
environment :
they are a function of poor course design
lack of instructor familiarity of the environment
learner preparation.
Preparing learners to learn online is perhaps the greatest skill that
they can offer. In an era of "lifelong learning", skills for acquiring
knowledge play a greater role in success than do knowledge
concepts (as they often cycle to obsolescence).

References

http://www.skillsoft.com
http://en.wikipedia.org