Success in eLearning: What is the recipe?

Abstract

The COL eLearning with international organisations initiative provides customised eLearning design, development, and delivery for just-in-time workplace eLearning for employees based in headquarters and field offices. Technology mediated learning has widened learning access to democratise learning. The competency-based learning outcomes have enhanced capacities in written communication, and the management of refugees and debt data. The partnering organisations span the United Nations System, the multilateral development banks, the humanitarian relief and the multilateral development agencies. Having delivered about 100 learning cohorts since 2000, COL has maintained an average completion rate of 80% (ranging from 57.3% to 97%) across the board. COL and its partnering organisations continuously explore means to increase learning success through examining the ingredients of eLearning. There is a vast array of ingredients which includes the self-instructional materials, the engagement of technology, the self-assessed activities, the tutor-marked assignments, the transactional presence of tutors, administrators, supervisors, and peers, This paper draws on COL’s experience of a decade in delivering eLearning courses to over 5,000 learners spread over a 100 countries to answer the questions: What should be the right mix and proportion of eLearning ingredients? How should they be processed, tested and evaluated for a perfect result?