| Does e-learning and web 2.0 sound complicated or | | | | collaboration and sharing between users. O'Reilly |
| hard to really picture if you are not familiar with | | | | Media titled a series of conferences around the |
| the terms? Sure they sound complicated if you | | | | phrase, and it has since become widely adopted. |
| are new to the lingo, but get used to them | | | | Although web 2.0 is a newer "coined" phrase |
| because they are going to be around for a while! | | | | hosted software is not all that new but both |
| The reason the business world needs to get use | | | | e-learning and web 2.0 are growing at an incredibly |
| to these two terms is because of the popularity | | | | rapid pace. Research suggests that the growth |
| and ranking of each. I challenge you to "google" | | | | rate of hosted online learning trends, are on |
| both and see how many results come back. | | | | average 25% a year. This indicates that |
| Today's high school and college graduates as well | | | | businesses (small to large) need to really do their |
| as the pace of technology are moving extremely | | | | due diligence with respect to how popular |
| fast. Most twenty something's are entering the | | | | integrating a web 2.0 training strategy is and how |
| workforce expecting to have online training and | | | | their newer ranks "expect" it as part of an |
| hosted software at their fingertips. Why? Well, | | | | organizations training program. Not only do your |
| because they use these tools to study with, to | | | | younger employees expect it, so do your |
| research with, to socialize with and they are a | | | | younger consumers! |
| part of their everyday lives. So what do they | | | | The twenty something generation "expect" web |
| really mean to business? | | | | 2.0 training at their jobs because they use social |
| Lets look at what "wikipedia" has to say: | | | | media tools that are hosted everyday and so do |
| E-learning: is a general term used to refer to | | | | those customers. The new and future customers |
| computer-enhanced learning. It is used | | | | "expect" to see a product demonstration online |
| interchangeable in so many contexts that it's | | | | before they buy. The new and future customers |
| critical to be clear what one means when one | | | | "expect" to go online and see and hear a |
| speaks of "eLearning". In many respects, it's | | | | step-by-step guide on how to build their 2 year |
| commonly associated with the field of advanced | | | | old's new play kitchen (believe me I could have |
| learning technology, which deals with both the | | | | used that last Christmas!). So you see how web |
| technologies and associated methodologies in | | | | 2.0 (fancy catch phrase for hosted online |
| learning using networked and/or multimedia | | | | solutions) and e-learning (web-based training) are |
| technologies. | | | | the way of our future employee training and |
| Web 2.0: Is a phrase coined by O'Reilly Media in | | | | customer service? If this makes no sense to |
| 2003 (and later popularized by the first Web 2.0 | | | | business owners and executives out there please |
| conference in 2004) in reference to a perceived | | | | let me know how you intend to retain an aging |
| second generation of web-based communities and | | | | staff and customer while still bringing in a return |
| hosted services - such as social networking sites, | | | | for those aging salaries, benefits and old customer |
| wikis, and folksonomies - which facilitate | | | | service programs. |