Differneces in e-Learning

With the new surge of technology also comes the creation of new and more clever ways of engaging people in learning. This new type of electronic learning, or e-Learning, can take many different forms depending on the ultimate goal of the project and audience it has been made for. The two e-Learning examples that I have compared are The Analytical Engine: An Introduction to Computer Science and The Universal Machine: A Multimedia Introduction to Computing. Though these two tools are teaching very similar topics their strategies for convey their knowledge are different.

In the case of The Universal Machine: A Multimedia Introduction to Computing, the key word to signify its type of teaching has to be the word Multimedia. With its interactive pictures which move around, to its soundtrack of speakers with the words they use written underneath, this teaching tool engages all of the senses with which we gain knowledge. Also, it has buttons and other interactive pieces to it to keep the person who is learning engaged and entertained.

A slightly differernt approach is seen in The Analytical Engine: An Introduction to Computer Science. While this teaching tool is still technically multimedia, with its pictures and sounds combined together, it is much less interactive than the first tool. While engaging and fun, the lack of user involvement truly takes away from the retention of the individual using this program to learn. However, this tool seemed less busy than the first, and because of this, I found myself with a higher expectation of the content of its information.

Upon researching and using these e-learning tools, I have learned that there is a great breadth and depth to the possibilities of e-learning, and should be carefully considered when deciding what to teach and who to teach it to.