E-LEARNING FOR BETTER FUTURE
What do you know about E-Learning? E-Learning is the use of electronic technologies to create learning experiences (Horton, 2012). As we know that E-Learning has become more popular in the world and also in Indonesia. We saw many Universities and Companies already implement E-Learning for their students and employees. People love to do e-learning because they can study everywhere just using internet connection and don’t have to attend the class physically. It means E-Learning can reach broader students, so they can enjoy e-learning from their location (especially if their location is far from the city) and makes learning process cheaper and easier. We can attend a class in the other country without going abroad, just using our PC or laptop and internet connection. E-Learning also important for the people in Indonesia that live in the village who want to study in the world class University, such as Binus University in Jakarta. With E-Learning, the students can study and develop their knowledge with Lecturer from World Class University in cheaper price.
Nowadays, many E-Learning already use Web 2.0 technology. With web 2.0 technology, E-learning became sophisticated, because students can share their own knowledge, insert comment for others opinion, discussed online, and many more. E-learning 2.0 is a kind of collaborative and user-centric learning, which is based on collective intelligence rather than a few experts’ knowledge. Some studies propose e-learning 2.0 systems that involve learners in designing, problem solving, or decision making through collaboration and communication tools (Huang & Shiu, 2011). E-learning provides virtual learning worlds where learners can take part in active and creative learning with others through simulations, role-play, remote control of real-world tools and devices, online master classes, or collaboration with other education providers. (Jethro, Grace, & Thomas, 2012).
So, E-Learning become more interesting for users and easier to understand with using Web 2.0 technology, because we know in Indonesia, many people love to use internet and gadget to communicate each other and also share their ideas and opinion through Social Media. There are several advantages and disadvantages from E-Learning as follows:
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| 1 | Greater Anonymity – Greater anonymity can increase both the honesty and quantity of discussion participation | No face to face meetings – Clearly this entails a wide range of disadvantages |
| 2 | Discussion Grading – Discussion participation can be graded much more accurately and easily | No Traditional Group Projects – In an internet course students cannot work on group projects in the traditional face to face way |
| 3 | Time Savings – The time savings from students not having to travel to and from and attend class | Academic Dishonesty – Typical internet courses do not have proctored exams and are thus substantially more susceptible to cheating |
| 4 | Flexibility, Convenience – The flexibility, convenience, savings of travel time, and absence of conflict with work hours | Speed and Mediation of Discussion – With an online discussion board students have much more time to formulate and post their responses; this gives important advantages, but it also has disadvantages. The flow of the discussion is slower |
| 5 | Cost Savings – An internet course requires no classroom, thus saving on building, parking, and maintenance costs | |
| 6 | Global Reach – Internet classes allow someone living hundreds of miles away from the nearest university |
Table 1 Advantages and disadvantages from E-Learning
Source: (Serlin, 2005)
So, if you want to implement E-Learning in the company or Education, you should analyze the environment and make sure the users are able to use E-Learning software and willing to learn, because the success of E-Learning also depends on the users. If you are E-Learning users, make sure you already understand how to use E-Learning software and consistent to use it. This situation could make the implementation of E-Learning success and add more value for users and Institution in the future.
Bibliography
Horton, W. (2012). E-Learning by Design. San Fransisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Huang, S.-L., & Shiu, J.-H. (2011). A User-Centric Adaptive Learning System for E-Learning 2.0. Educational Technology & Society .
Jethro, O. O., Grace, A. M., & Thomas, A. K. (2012). E-Learning and Its Effects on Teaching and Learning in a Global Age. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences .
Monika, C. (2013). Analysis of Perceptions of Conventional. Journal of Competitiveness .
Serlin, R. (2005, August). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Courses. Based on Experiences in Teaching Net Delivered INDV 102: Money, .