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Whenever I search in the "Digital Library for Education and Information Technology (EdITLib http://www.editlib.org/ )" for articles related to "online" training, I can only find articles using the "eLearning" term. Whenever I search the Google search engines using the term "eLearning", I can see that a higher number of searches are performed by using the term "online" ( about 1 million in Lean Six Sigma on 2012). Obviously there are differences between eLearning and online learning, but in some cases they are too subtle for users and the public at large. Creating a collaborative eLearning environment require from students the ability to create a social climate and sense of community and work synergistically using critical thinking, creativity and cooperative learning. (Bernard, Rojo de Rubalcava, & St. Pierre 2000). When students look for "online" courses their main scope is to receive an accreditation or a certificate that will help them with additional skills but the community is not happening.
eLearning is a unique experience rewarding for students who are self-directed. For those who are not self-directed, there are in-class sessions available, but then if we want to develop people who are self-directed who can lead system changes in Lean Six Sigma environments then they need to develop certain personalities.The students require strong computer skills to be successful in this environment. Students need to be active, creative and engaged in the learning process (Palloff and Pratt 2001, page 107). Students are disciplined, and are usually voluntarily with high personal expectations.
Students are community builders because the strong feeling of community increases the flow of information among all learners and creates a greater feeling of community and personal attention. (Rovai, 2001, p.3).
Personality types are tied directly to learning styles. Students who want to move forward faster are more successful when working in groups where they have the most extensive innovation. Students who focus on constructivism which is the act of learning can construct their own knowledge, based on their experiences and relationship with concepts. Constructivism believes that our personal world is constructed in our minds and these personal constructions define our personal realities. Constructivists engage learners so that knowledge is not inert, but rather usable in new and different situations (Jonassen 1995, p7).
As eLearning has a multidisciplinary nature, it is an open system and influenced by people who are using it. Based on mentioned pedagogical principles, e-learning must also the make learners curious, motivate learners and provide for challenging learning environment (Litting, 2006).
Reference: Ahn, J. (2003). Personality of learners and group collaboration developments in e-learning. In A. Rossett (Ed.),
World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education (pp. 1455-
1458). Phoenix, Arizona: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
Hayden, K. L., & Hood, A. W. (2003). Collaborative online activities that promote a sense of community. In A.
Rossett (Ed.), World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate Government, Healthcare, and Higher
Education (pp. 1606-1609). Phoenix, Arizona: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.