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Introduction

The meaning of the letter ‘e’ is vast and encompasses many fields – from astronomy to video games. Used in technology, ‘e’ means electronic. E-learning, then, is e-(lectronic) learning, just as e-mail is e-(lectronic) mail. The ‘e’ represents the means by which we receive or access learning – electronically, typically on the Web (online) via a Web browser. This ‘e’ has been described as the ‘how’ and the ‘learning content’ the ‘what’ (Clark & Mayer, 2003).

Notable definitions

Existing literature defines e-learning as instruction accessed electronically on a computer. This instruction could be a class, a course, or a discussion and could look like a book, a movie, a Web page, a game, or a combination of those things. E-learning can be bought or created from scratch.

Some other notable definitions of e-learning are listed below:

1. E-Learning is instruction that is delivered electronically, in part or wholly – via a Web browser, through the Internet or an intranet, or through multimedia platforms such as CD-ROM or DVD (Hall, 1997).

2. E-Learning is a structured, purposeful use of electronic system or computer in support of the learning process (Allen, 2003).

3. E-Learning covers a wide set of applications and processes, such as Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classrooms, and digital collaboration. It includes delivering content via the Internet, intranet/extranet (LAN/WAN), audio and videotape, satellite broadcast, interactive TV, and CD-ROM (ASTD, 2001).

4. E-learning is training delivered on a computer (including CD-ROM, Internet, or intranet) that is designed to support individual learning or organizational performance goals (Clark and Mayer, 2003).

5. Web-based training [an alternate term for e-learning] is the integration of instructional practices and Internet capabilities to direct a learner toward a specified level of proficiency in a specified competency (Conrad, 2000).