Write to us

Delivery Media & Technologies

E-Learning makes use of a wide range of technologies and media. These technologies can be categorized as delivery media and interaction tools.

Delivery Media:

    Print:

  • Textbooks, Study Guides, Workbooks which are still very common in online learning courses.

    Audio:

  • Streaming audio - Used to deliver the instructors comments over any network.
  • Audio tapes - Could be mailed to students.

    Video:

  • Streaming video - Can deliver video over any network.
  • Videotape - Could be produced and mailed to students.
  • Cable TV - Course segments can be produced and aired in various locations nationwide.

Useful Links
www.ugc.ac.in
www.dec.ac.in
www.knowledgecommission.gov.in
 
Articles
Distance Education
Delivery Media and Technologies
E-Learning Glossary
Traditional vs. Distance Learning
 
 

    Data:

  • Web Pages - A very common form of delivering content.
  • Computer Based Training Content - Often delivered via CD-ROM, but also deliverable via a network.
  • Computer files - Can be emailed or downloaded from a server (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, database, etc.).
  • Online Tests - Computer scripts can be written to deliver a variety of test formats.

Interactive Tools

The following tools can also be used to deliver content to learners.

    Asynchronous:

  • Web Pages - A very common form of delivering content.
  • Email - Used for questions and discussion.
  • Listservs - Basically email to everyone in the class or section at once.
  • Web Forums - Also called discussion forums or bulletin boards. They are probably the most common form of interaction in online courses.
  • Newsgroups - Public forums that use the Usenet system.
  • BBS - A computer bulletin board that you dial, and use like a web forum + email + file transfer.

    Synchronous:

  • Chat Rooms - Can be either moderated by an instructor.
  • Shared Whiteboards - Allow class members to write on the same digital whiteboard.
  • Application Sharing - The same program and file can be shared for demonstration or collaboration.
  • Teleconferencing - Could be used to deliver instructor audio, or for collaboration.
  • Videoconferencing - Either from expensive, high quality, dedicated systems, or from less reliable desktop versions.
  • MOO’s & MUDs - Virtual worlds where users take on avatars and interact in various ways.