Top eLearning Terms for the New Trainer

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It is surprisingly common for individuals to find themselves in the role of an educator, even if it was not their intended career path. Often, their expertise and the recognition of their colleagues lead them to become official educators in their field, despite lacking a background in education. If you find yourself in this position, it becomes essential to become acquainted with the technical terms and jargon used in the industry, especially for eLearning. In this article, we will explore key eLearning terms that you should become familiar with, focusing on those that specifically incorporate the term "learning" in their name. This knowledge will enable you to navigate the world of eLearning with greater understanding and confidence. Let’s start with the term eLearning itself:

1.    eLearning

eLearning encompasses diverse methods for delivering technology-enabled training. While it may involve higher development costs, its implementation is cost-effective, enabling frequent training without travel expenses and minimal disruption to productivity. Crucially, eLearning ensures information consistency, acting as your reliable subject matter expert at their finest.

2.    Asynchronous Learning

Asynchronous learning is a self-paced solution where learners can complete learning activities when and where their schedule allows. Activities may include self-directed eLearning courses, discussion forums, and/or other forms of learning that do not require an instructor or a specific time and place. This makes learning more flexible and convenient.

3.    Synchronous Learning

Although not an eLearning term per se, it is still important to differentiate asynchronous and synchronous learning. Synchronous learning is live, real-time learning where learners and instructors participate in activities at the same time; examples include virtual classroom sessions, webinars, and/or video conferences. This type of learning is one way to teach complex subjects and can also help create a sense of community among participants.

4.    Microlearning

Microlearning is a short and focused learning method that delivers small, bite-sized chunks of information for easy consumption. This type of learning has become more and more popular, as it offers a more efficient and effective way to teach complex subjects versus synchronous solutions. It’s considered more efficient and effective because people have less time and shorter attention spans. Microlearning can also be accessed on mobile devices, which is convenient for the modern-day learner. 

5.    Learning Management System (LMS)

A Learning Management System (LMS) is software that helps educators create, manage, and deliver content and track individual learner progress for that content. An LMS can be used for both synchronous and asynchronous learning and can support a wide range of learning activities, including multimedia, quizzes, and discussions.

6.    Blended Learning

Blended learning combines both traditional classroom teaching with online learning activities. It offers the best of both worlds by helping educators create more flexible and convenient learning experiences. Blended learning can help increase student engagement, improve learning outcomes, and reduce costs associated with traditional classroom teaching.

By familiarizing yourself with key eLearning terms, you can enhance your understanding and effectiveness as an educator in the modern learning landscape. From eLearning and asynchronous learning to microlearning, LMS, and blended learning, these concepts and your understanding of them will empower you to create engaging, flexible, and efficient learning experiences.