e-Learning Support: FAQs

As interest in e-learning has grown, AMA has received many questions about e-learning. Here are answers to some of those questions:

What is e-learning?

E-learning is computer-based training, enabling people to learn no matter where they are so long as they have access to a computer. Web-based training requires access to the Internet.

How do I use e-learning?

E-learning is easy. All you need to do is to follow the instructions given with the training course.

If I’m not a techie, should I still consider an e-learning course?

Yes. Successful e-learning isn’t a matter of your technical skills. Most e-learning programs don’t require a sophisticated set of skills. Nor should you select a course for the latest in technology—the bells and whistles don’t make for the best online training. Rather, you want to look for programs that provide solid, substantial information you can use to further your professional career.

Why might I consider e-learning?

E-learning will enable you to enhance your skills even if you can’t travel to an off-site training facility or if you have a hectic work schedule. It also provides an economical way to grow professionally—to practice lifelong learning—since e-learning is usually less expensive than off-site training, including travel costs.

I enjoy the networking that occurs in classroom training. Should I consider online training?

Maybe not. Although some e-learning courses provide a “live” experience with a facilitator and colleagues, most e-learning is solitary learning—no real-time interaction with others.

Does e-learning carry the same degree of professional respect as attendance in a classroom?

At one time, the answer would have been no—employers and colleagues might have considered your online learning substandard. But that’s no longer the case. Even colleges and universities are providing online offerings.

As with any learning experience, the proof of its value is up to you. If you take a course online in negotiating, are you better equipped to negotiate? If you are a new supervisor and take a primer e-learning course, do you feel self-confident in your new role afterwards?

Before I commit to an e-learning program, what questions should I ask myself?

Since success with online learning is self-paced and depends on your willingness to sit down at the computer and learn, a critical question to ask yourself is: Do I have the self-discipline to complete an e-learning program? Some e-learning courses have audio and video components, but others do not. They use reading and writing as the dominant means of communication. So you should also ask yourself if you are comfortable with their learning methodology.

Finally, check your own computer hardware and software to see if it has the capability to run an on line program. Be sure it has all the elements you need to reap the full benefits of an online program.

How useful will I find the e-learning programs from AMA?

The e-learning courses AMA offers are designed to complement AMA’s instructor-led classroom learning experiences. Whether used with other AMA resources or as stand-alone exercises, you’ll find it possible to put the material you learn in AMA e-learning courses in practice immediately. They’ve been developed with that in mind!