“Online learning is not the next big thing, it is the now big thing.”

Donna J. Abernathy

E-learning, also referred to as online learning or electronic learning, is the acquisition of knowledge which takes place through electronic technologies and media. In simple language, e-learning is defined as “learning that is enabled electronically”. Typically, e-learning is conducted on the Internet, where students can access their learning materials online at any place and time. E-Learning most often takes place in the form of online courses, online degrees, or online programs.

What is the Value of E-Learning?

Online learning has numerous advantages over traditional learning methods. Some of these include the possibility for students to make use of self-paced learning and to choose their own learning environments. Additionally, e-learning is both cost-effective and cost-efficient, as it removes the geographical obstacles often associated with traditional classrooms and education.

Taking these benefits and many more into consideration, it becomes evident why the current trends in e-learning show remarkable growth for the industry.

What is the Definition of E-Learning?

There are as many definitions of e-learning as there are educational scientists in the world. In order to get a better overview of the various academic definitions of e-learning, let’s take a look at some examples from different academic institutions and educational researchers.

Sarah Guri-Rosenbilt from the Open University of Israel explored the exact definition of e-learning in great detail in her 2005 research paper “Distance Education’ and ‘E-Learning’: Not the Same Thing”. She defined e-learning as electronic media used for various learning purposes ranging from conventional classroom add-on functions to online substitution for face-to-face meetings with online encounters.

The future of online learning will continue to see exponential growth.

Moving onto Internet resources, Clad Junior. has defined e-learning as learning by utilizing electronic technologies for accessing ZIMSEC and Cambridge Primary educational curriculums outside of traditional classrooms.

As it appears, answering the question of what is the definition of e-learning is not as easy as it might first seem. The differences between e-learning and distance learning are subtle but important, and it’s important to make distinctions between the two.

What is E-Learning Used for in Education?

E-Learning has a vast amount of uses across all sectors of society and the available examples of e-learning being used effectively are plentiful.

What is Online Learning Going to Look Like in the Future?

The future of online learning will continue to see exponential growth. As more educational institutions, corporations, and online learners worldwide start to recognize the importance of online learning, its role in education will only continue to rise. Online learning already has numerous uses in education, and its future roles in education are going to be immense. The agendas of the most successful educational institutions in the world have already recognized that online learning can transform people, knowledge, skills, and performance, and other educational institutions will likely follow suit sooner rather than later.

However, we must not get ahead of ourselves. While the world of online education is undoubtedly an exciting world to be in, many students who are uncomfortable with online learning still prefer the traditional live, in-person teaching methods which they are used to. All students have unique learning styles and online learning will likely never be a one-size-fits-all type of solution to education.

With that being said, there’s no doubt in the fact that we are in the beginning phase of a new era in education. What is e-learning right now, will pale in comparison to what is online learning in the years to come.