Difference Between e-Presentations and e-Learning Courses

[GerryWaz]

Just curious on what folks here think: What do you think are the main differences between an e-Presentation and an e-learning course?

[SFNancy]

Hi Gerry!

I'll bet this question will generate some good discussion.

I'm replying using the context of typical business e-presentations and e-learning.

To me, the biggest difference is application. With an e-presentation, generally you are provided information - sometimes as an information dump, although learning can occur during an e-presentation. You don't usually have the opportunity to apply anything from the presentation until later. With e-learning, there are (or there should be ) opportunities to apply what you are learning - to think, to make decisions, to make mistakes and explore consequences.

I'll be interested in reading others' responses.

SFNancy

[@robkennedy3]

At it's simplest, I would say an e-presentation=no user action required. e-Learning does or SHOULD have some necessary action for the user. That may be oversimplifying ti and I'm sure there are a multitude of arguments against my simple definition. But for purposes of this forum, just making it really simple.

[GerryWaz]

Thanks, Nancy and Rob! Great points.

Hope others consider joining and offer their perspectives.

[gregsedwards]

About 4,000 hours of development time.

[DavidAnderson]

Cool question Gerry. I'd consider the "e-presentation" part of e-learning but without the practice and feedback components.

E-presenting is an important component of e-learning, however, presentation strategies will be most effective when the learner has the opportunity for practice and feedback.

Screencasts are a good example of e-presentations, right? Lots of new ideas on Screenr but without actually practicing the techniques, we likely not to learn the technique or commit it to long-term memory.

[gochyee]

I agree with David, E-presentation I think is just presenting the traditional information or material we have on the screen with no form of interaction.

[pablohunny]

I'm inclined to think an e-Presentation presents the information to the listener passively, and e-Learning actively engages the user.

-A-

[GerryWaz]

Been thinking a lot about this lately, especially in encouraging our some of our SME developers to try some things over time to move from just doing e-presentations.

Wonder if this model I just noodled up encapsulates our discussion here? Also wanted to tie in the theme of one of Tom's recent blog posts.

[pablohunny]

I haven't been in this business long, but I think your horizontal axis is a bit arbitrary. I'm not sure who the skill aspect of the horizontal axis reflects on. If you're talking about the learner, then their skill set shouldn't need to increase to use an eLearning app vs a presentation. Developing eLearning may require a wider skill set, but with the tools Tom has been recommending over the last few months that I've been reading here I feel pretty sure it's possible to develop an eLearning course without ever leaving a WYSIWYG screen or touching anything a low tech person might consider scary.

Also, doesn't the development time depend on the size of the course as well as its complexity? The chart isn't clear if it's referring to eLearning courses in general, or a specific course that is developed in various ways and the comparative costs for development.

Just my 2p

-A-