According to Kruse (2004), these are the benefits and disadvantages of e-learning:
Benefits
- E-learning provides a single experience that accommodates the three distinct styles of auditory, visual and kinaesthetic learners.
- E-learning can be used with a globally dispersed audience which reduces publishing and distribution costs.
- E-learning offers individual instruction
- E-learning can target specific needs.
- By using learning style tests, e-learning can locate and target individual learning preferences
- Synchronous e-learning is self paced.
- Advanced learners can speed through or bypass instruction/ content
Disadvantages
- Computers will never completely eliminate human instruction and other forms of educational delivery.
- Human interaction is a vital ingredient to learning and without it the learning experience is not complete.
- E-learning has the potential to isolate learners.
- No strong bond between the teach and student or other students is formed.
Another disadvantage:
“The choice of activities and sequences may not necessarily bring about learning” (Lim 2001).
Sequencing and design of an e-learning course is a complicated task. The right balance of freedom needs to be given to the learner and the activities must teach something. I also believe that e-learning courses can sometimes not assess students’ ability properly because most assessments are summative and not formative. Computers often correct student’s work and an instructor cannot make a subjective judgement about the student’s progress.
