I have noticed over recent weeks that we have a number of i-learnists in our midst. These people have identified themselves by their fairly negative comments about the use of e-Learning. So I thought it would be worth looking at the differences between e-Learnists and i-Learnists

Perhaps I should clarify what an i-Learnist is. We all know about e-Learning but i-Learning is all about (i)nstructor-based training. Hence i-Learnists follow the traditional ‘chalk & talk’ learning philosophy.

The Fundamentalist i-Learnists do not use any form of electronic training resources. They strictly adhere to the black/whitebaord, flip charts and hand written or typewritten notes.

The Reformist i-Learnists have made small concessions to the electronic world in that they use overhead projectors (with hand drawn slides) and have a video player to show their 1970s and 1980s training videos..

On the other hand the Fundamentalist e-Learnists see a classroom filled with computers. Classrooms with individual booths where each student has a computer with multiple monitors so they can be sending e-mails, joining chat rooms, blogging, checking out Myspace and Facebook and visiting Netvibes for the latest RSS feeds. The students communicate using e-mails, blogs, chat as well as sms to their fellow students in the booths next to them.

The Reformist e-Learnist has conceded that there is a need for personal contact so has added webcams and headsets so the students can see who they are talking to.

Somewhere in between are the Progressives. These see a world where both philosophies are embraced and the good points of each one are used as required.

So where do you stand??