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20Maritime Reporter & Engineering News Like it or not, eLearning is trans- forming maritime training.People may argue its merits and applications, but there is no arguing that it is here to stay. As eLearn- ing continues to expand its presence, all of us involved in maritime training are going to be faced with critical decisions about whether and how we employ it in our organizations. But do we know enough to make informed decisions? Do we truly understand eLearning, itsstrengths, its limitations, and how it is best applied?This is the second in a series of articleswhich examines eLearning in the mar- itime industry. The first article, on page 22 of April?s Maritime Reporter & Engi-neering News , discussed blended learn-ing (the combination of face-to-face and eLearning) and presented some researchon its effectiveness. Next month?s article will look at the practical benefits of blended learning. But understanding eLearning and itsbenefits is only half the battle. It is equally important to examine its limita- tions, the topic we address here.The Limitations of eLearning Before presenting some of the benefits of eLearning in next month?s article, it is important to understand its limitationswhen considering its use in maritimetraining. Like any powerful tool, eLearn- ing can improve efficiency and effective- ness if it is applied to take advantage of its strengths. However, it may be of no help at all (and in fact may even be detri- mental) if applied in a way for which it is not well suited. The cliché ?the right tool for the right job? comes to mind here. Sowhat is the ?job? for which eLearning isnot the ?right tool?? What are the limita- tions of eLearning?Not a Replacement for ?Hands-On? E-Learning is an excellent tool for teaching knowledge, including the fun- damental knowledge on which skills are built. However, when a skill needs to be mastered, there is no substitute for hands-on learning.Therefore, in maritime training whereboth skills and knowledge are required, it is important that we apply the correcttechnique for each. Practise, alone, can-not teach the required knowledge. eLearning, alone, cannot teach the re-quired skills. This makes maritime train- ing especially suited to a blendedlearning approach (combining eLearningwith hands-on training). Not only are awider variety of learning styles ad- dressed, but the best technique can be employed for each of the knowledge and skills which must be assimilated. But thecomment stands that eLearning can never be a complete replacement for hands-onlearning.E-Learning Cannot Replace an Instructor Unfortunately, some organizations which employ eLearning believe that they can create a high-quality training ex- perience without the use of a course in-structor or an on-line course facilitator. This is generally not the case. Whether in-person or on-line, some person is stillneeded to guide, mentor, motivate, and answer questions. This person is also crit- ical in accommodating trainees who have learning needs which are not anticipatedby the learning materials. In this case,there is no substitute for a human at thefront of the class or on the other end ofthe on-line communication forum to lis-ten, reflect and suggest.It is especiallyimportant to keep this point in mind if you choose to employ CD-based training packages. While some web-based eLearning experiences provide tools for trainees to communicate with their peeror a course facilitator, CD-based training packages typically do not. Therefore, if you do use CD-based training, you maywish to consider supplementing it witheither face-to-face meetings or on-line discussion tools to provide access to a course instructor or facilitator. E-Learning is Not a Cure-All There are many examples of poor on- line courses just as there are many exam- ples of poor classroom-based courses. Itis just as easy to create one as the other. Taking a poor face-to-face course and putting it on-line does not turn it into agood course. It is now just a bad course, on-line. Likewise for instructors. A poor instructor who becomes a facilitator of an on-line course is now simply a poor in- structor, on-line. Although this may seem like an obvi- ous observation, I highlight it because many organizations, when they decide to employ eLearning, do so because they believe that changing the delivery model will improve the course. It doesn?t. E- Learning can be an excellent way to im- prove access, learning outcomes and experiences. However, the same consid- eration for pedagogy must be devoted to the design of the course and needs of thetrainees as if the course was to be deliv- ered in class.Cost ReductionThe prospect of cost savings was a pri- mary early driver for eLearning. Since then, experience has taught us much about the cost of on-line courses. Simplysaid, a high-quality eLearning course(with a course facilitator or instructor) tends to be no less expensive to deliver than its classroom-based alternative. There are some caveats to this, however. Those who claim that eLearning is far less expensive than classroom-based courses make that claim for one of the following reasons: 1.Because the cost of travel and ac-commodation is removed when using eLearning. This is often a legitimate, and possibly substantial, cost saving. TRAINING & EDUCATION Weighing Good & Bad ELearning is an Increasingly Invaluable ? but Not a Perfect ? Learning Tool All signs point to an increased use of ELearning in the always-on, always-mobile maritime market. MR May 12 # 3 (17-24):MR Template 4/27/2012 11:07 AM Page 20