E-learning, short for electronic learning, means learning delivered through digital tools, usually over the internet, instead of in a physical classroom. It covers everything from a self-paced course you finish on your phone to a live lesson on a video call.
E-learning grew quickly through the 2000s, as the web and learning management systems, which first appeared in the late 1990s, made online courses practical. Today it is a mainstream way to teach school subjects and train employees. This guide explains what e-learning means, its three main types, real examples, its pros and cons, and where it is heading.
What is the meaning of e-learning?
E-learning is the use of electronic technologies and digital media to deliver lessons, courses and training programmes. Learners reach the content through a website, an app or a learning platform, on a laptop, tablet or phone.
Three things set it apart from a classroom lesson:
- Place: learners can join from anywhere with a connection.
- Time: the course is either self-paced or scheduled live.
- Format: text, video, quizzes, discussion and games all sit in one place.
What are the types of e-learning?
The meaning of e-learning shifts a little with the type, because learners absorb knowledge in different ways. There are three main types.
Asynchronous e-learning
Asynchronous e-learning is self-paced. Learners open the material when it suits them: recorded lectures, discussion forums, reading lists and assignments with a deadline rather than a start time. It suits people who need flexibility, such as shift workers or learners in other time zones.
You can build this kind of asynchronous e-learning in AhaSlides: lessons made of pages and knowledge checks, one shared link, and a report of who finished. A Match Pairs slide, like the one below, makes a quick knowledge check at the end of a module. When learners finish, they can also get a certificate to download as a PDF or add to LinkedIn, so completing the course leaves them with proof.
A Match Pairs knowledge check for a self-paced module.
Recorded lectures fit in too. You can upload your own video to an AhaSlides lesson as an MP4 or WebM file of up to 100 MB, or paste a YouTube or Vimeo link, then follow it with a knowledge check so each clip ends with a quick test of what landed. Try it in a course.
Related: Individualised learning: what it is and is it worth it? (5 steps)
Synchronous e-learning
Synchronous e-learning happens in real time. Learners and instructors meet in a live lecture, webinar or virtual classroom at a set time, which gives immediate feedback and open discussion.
The risk is a silent screen. Interactive slides keep a live session lively: a quick poll, a quiz question, or a Spinner Wheel that picks who answers next.
A Spinner Wheel picks who answers next in a live online class.
Blended learning
Blended learning combines in-person teaching with online learning. Learners might attend a practical session on campus and then work through quizzes, readings and discussions on an e-learning platform. It keeps the human contact and hands-on practice of a classroom and adds anytime access to materials. For more ideas, see these examples of blended learning.
What are examples of e-learning?
The meaning of e-learning looks different depending on the learner. Here are four common examples.
Microlearning
Microlearning delivers content in small, bite-sized modules built around one objective. A module might be a short video, an infographic or a three-question quiz. Free microlearning is easy to find on platforms such as Coursera and Khan Academy.
Quizzes and gamified e-learning
Quizzes and game elements can raise engagement, motivation and retention. AhaSlides lets you mix several quiz formats, including multiple choice, fill in the blanks, Match Pairs and short answer. Points, leaderboards and timers add friendly competition. Read more about gamification for learning.
A Match Pairs quiz question, one of the quiz formats learners can answer on their phones.
Open learning and MOOCs
MOOCs (massive open online courses) are free or low-cost online courses open to very large numbers of learners, often from well-known universities, with no entry requirements. Coursera, edX and FutureLearn are well-known platforms. The New York Times called 2012 “The Year of the MOOC” after several major universities and platforms launched large initiatives. MOOCs have grown steadily since that breakthrough year.
Corporate training programmes
More organisations use e-learning to train staff on compliance, leadership, technical skills and customer service. Many teams now build these modules themselves with an online course creator rather than waiting for a full LMS rollout.
Related:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning?
Advantages
- Flexibility: learners choose when and where they study.
- Personalised pace: people can repeat what they find hard and skip what they know.
- Wide choice: courses on almost any subject are a click away.
- Cost: no travel or room hire, and one course can reach many learners.
- Different learning styles: video, text, quizzes and discussion suit different preferences.
Disadvantages
- Less social contact: some learners miss the community of a classroom.
- Slower feedback: it can be harder to get instant help from an instructor.
- Self-discipline: self-paced courses rely on the learner staying motivated.
- Access: a reliable connection and a suitable device are needed.
The future of e-learning
AI is likely to change what e-learning means in practice. AI-powered chatbots can act as tutors that answer questions, explain a concept in a different way and suggest further resources at any hour. Virtual and augmented reality may also add hands-on practice for skills that are hard to teach on a screen.
Frequently asked questions
Are e-learning and online learning the same?
Mostly yes. Both mean learning through digital tools over the internet. E-learning is the broader term and can also include offline digital material, such as a course on a USB stick, while online learning usually means a course you take over the internet.
Is e-learning better than in-person learning?
It depends on the learner and the goal. E-learning wins on flexibility, reach and cost. In-person teaching wins on social contact and instant feedback, which is why many programmes choose a blended mix.
Why is e-learning better than classroom learning?
For many learners it is more flexible and accessible, and it adds multimedia and self-paced options. It is not better for every subject or every learner, so the best choice depends on what you are teaching.
Which country is highest in e-learning?
No single ranking settles this, because the answer depends on whether you count learners, courses or spending. Treat any claim of a “number one” country with care and check how it was measured.
Key takeaways
E-learning means learning through digital tools, in self-paced, live or blended form. Its meaning will keep changing as AI, virtual reality and augmented reality change how people learn. What matters most is that learners stay motivated and feel comfortable putting what they learn into practice.
Ready to try it? Build a quiz, a poll or a self-paced lesson and share it with one link.
If you have no courses yet, the Courses page opens on 600+ ready-made course templates, so you do not have to start from a blank page (start from a course template).
