E-learning is not suited for a school environment and should rather be used in the workplace, says Prof Johannes Cronje, professor of e-learning at the University of Pretoria`s faculty of education.
Cronje was speaking at an e-learning conference organised by Knowledge Resources at Gallagher Estate, Johannesburg, yesterday.
"The government often runs away from the responsibility they have towards students, which is to teach. Going the e-learning route is not going to solve students` learning problems or make it easier for them to learn. It can`t work. A school should be a 'soft` environment where kids are nurtured in appropriate stages so they can learn effectively," he said.
The corporate environment, on the other hand, is strong enough to allow employees to study at their leisure, said Cronje. "E-learning is more effective in the workplace because of the myth of 'just in time` learning. A company needs its staff trained now for information that will be used at this point in time, not in the coming years, that is why it is imperative that they go the e-learning route," he explained.
Companies still face many e-learning challenges, said Cronje. "There is no innovation taking place in e-learning; all we see is a re-branding of existing technology. Companies are looking for return on investment as far as e-learning is concerned because they continue to spend money on getting their staff trained, but no new technology is being introduced."
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