Introduction to Elearning

The emergence of computers, the internet and the technologies that followed them revolutionalised the world. The world is as we see it now, thanks to technological advancements in the last few decades.  The pandemic brought the world to a stagnant point. Thanks to the internet and its benefits, numerous businesses managed to restart normal operations because of collaborative technologies. In addition, this has also helped in the educational sector as many managed to proceed with their education. During the pandemic, we understood the importance of having a basic understanding of healthcare sciences. Elearning in healthcare benefits both students and experienced healthcare professionals. It is a terrific method for a healthcare worker to keep current, engage with peers, expand their professional knowledge, and even earn a new degree or diploma certificate.

Elearning in healthcare

Elearning, commonly referred to as computer learning or online learning, is knowledge acquisition via social media and electronic devices. E-learning is "the technological facilitation of learning."

Here, students may access their elearning resources from anywhere. There are a variety of elearning approaches, including interactive lectures, online classes, webinars, and internet-based training.

In healthcare, elearning emerges in a variety of formats. Healthcare practitioners can attend live seminars given by qualified experts. They may also enrol in courses or webinars on certain topics and see prerecorded lectures at their convenience. Websites such as ours offer several courses on microbiology, anatomy and physiology and Diabetes. These courses enable individuals to acquire the most recent skills, receive a degree, and earn essential knowledge. In addition, if you are from the healthcare sector, it will assist you in career growth.

While doing an elearning course, students may not attend the classes or participate in the course in the traditional sense. But, with the use of technology, students will have a better understanding of the subject. This is mostly because of the interactive nature and the convenience these courses provide.

The emergence of Elearning 

The idea of elearning is not a recent development. It has existed for quite some time. MIT produced the first generation of MOOCs in 2002. (Massive Open Online Courses). MOOCs were born from the Open Educational Resources (OER) campaign, inspired by the MIT OpenCourseWare effort. The OER campaign began with studies that demonstrated no correlation between the size of the class and student achievement.

The early years of Elearning

Between 2006 and 2010, it was a period of significant advancements in elearning. Due to technical advancements, elearning was increasing in popularity. It was cost-effective, and geographical barriers were not there anymore.

E-books and elearning were increasing in popularity, mobile technology started gaining its place in the hearts of people, libraries were being digitised, and virtual reality was almost here.

E-learning in the last decade

Since 2011, elearning has been expanding and advancing. During this period, several technological developments happened, including the cloud, the development of learning analytics, massive open online courses (MOOCs), and smart wearables. 

Online education grew popular among students, homemakers, professionals, company owners, and entrepreneurs. E-learning was beneficial for students since it enabled them to acquire knowledge. At the same time, professionals discovered that elearning courses assisted them in improving their skillsets and advancing in their careers.

E-Learning for Healthcare

The developments in educational technology have also impacted the healthcare profession by upgrading its workplaces and facilitating personalised instruction. This is extremely advantageous since each student will be able to customise the kind of education they require.

As technology advanced, healthcare professionals acquired access to AI. The augmented reality enhanced their education further. Artificial intelligence facilitates understanding and memorisation, whereas AR facilitates immersive learning. Several healthcare facilities began integrating and promoting various CPD choices (CPD).

The year 2020 presented new obstacles to the whole world. At the same time, there was substantial growth in medical data. All of these studies have the ability to assist nations in enhancing their health conditions. However, integrating the most recent normative guidelines and practices worldwide is difficult. New methods for rapidly disseminating evidence, knowledge, and data to healthcare professionals have become crucial.

The significance of E-learning for the healthcare sector

The healthcare sector is changing at an astounding rate, necessitating that professionals remain current on the most recent technology, legislation, certifications, and training—this aids patients in providing the best possible treatments, outcomes and services.

Since healthcare personnel are extremely busy caring for patients every day, attending classes would prevent them from working. E-learning can be considered the simplest and most effective method for healthcare workers to remain current on recent breakthroughs in treatments and diagnostics.

E-learning gives healthcare workers the freedom to determine how and when they wish to study. 

12 E-Learning Advantages for Healthcare Students

We have identified twelve advantages of elearning for the ones interested in being a part of the healthcare sector:

1. Students are not required to leave their comfort zones.

One of the greatest benefits of elearning in healthcare is that it enables individuals to enrol in any institution, course, or webinar from their own homes. Individuals may advance their abilities and careers with an online undergraduate degree without relocating.

2. Students will be more flexible with time.

In general, elearning healthcare enables students to do the course at their speed and at optimal times and locations. When the students have complete control over their schedules, it is simpler for them students to have an active family and social life and combine employment and education.

3. E-learning can help you reduce expenses.

E-learning may significantly reduce the costs associated with training. Instead of reserving a space, paying expert trainers, and covering employees' shifts so they can attend training, the entire process is conducted online and during work hours. This relieves you of a tremendous financial and logistical burden. It allows you to focus on the essential aspect of your job: delivering great healthcare to the individuals under your supervision. E-self-scheduled learning's nature enables your staff to relocate to the optimal location. Therefore, you may be certain that students are retaining the training's lessons.

E-learning provides an efficient answer to the challenges managers frequently face in the healthcare industry. It reduces expenses without sacrificing quality, and if you choose to include a group discussion component in your training, this may be achieved. As a learning tool, it is very adaptable, which is exactly what you need when you work in an industry as demanding as healthcare.

4. A virtual classroom is less stressful for students.

Flexible schedules help students to have decreased stress. When individuals study at their speed, engage in more comfortable ways and do not have to commute or go to college, they are more relaxed.

Students are dynamic at various periods throughout the day. E-learning allows individuals to study when their minds are most active. In addition, some individuals find it difficult to concentrate and contribute in traditional classrooms. Online education may facilitate student concentration and participation with questions and suggestions.

5. Healthcare education may occur anywhere.

Healthcare workers are extremely busy, yet they must receive the necessary continuing education. Following a day or night shift, class attendance is almost impossible. Elearning enables healthcare workers to study in their office, at home, or even while riding the train. The beauty of eLearning is that it can be accessed on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, making it nearly as mobile as we are.

6. Healthcare education may be more beneficial than conventional education.

E-learning programmes enable anyone to study wherever they choose. Some argue that this is not as effective because it does not allow for classroom-based subject discussion. However, a survey commissioned by the World Health Organization concluded that elearning for healthcare workers is as successful as or more effective than traditional learning settings because E-learning platforms provide a large array of capabilities.

7. Elearning in healthcare serves as a resource.

A Learning Management System (LMS) or eLearning system can serve as a database or library for healthcare workers to consult when they have queries. They may recall reading something in one of the modules, but they cannot recall the specifics. Within minutes, they may access the LMS and locate all pertinent information. Creating elearning healthcare modules with a search function that navigates the user directly to their question simplifies locating an answer.

The dynamic LMS may also serve as a bulletin board, allowing healthcare organisations to inform employees of the latest updates or when a new module has been implemented.

8. All learners may access and benefit from healthcare education.

How do you prefer to study? There is something for everyone in elearning healthcare courses, including voice, text, interactivity, questions, photos, videos, and animation. Regardless of their learning method, there is something for everyone because the knowledge is given in many formats. There is also no time constraint, and the user is in control, so they may work at their speed and take breaks when they seem appropriate.

In the healthcare business, the material must be thoroughly digested, so there is no rush, and individuals may go on to the next module only when they are prepared.

9. It is suitable for everyone's requirements.

The greatest benefit of elearning healthcare is its adaptability to the demands of any student. Students in the healthcare field will have access to the materials necessary to acquire enduring skills for assisting others.

Here, students can view content according to their convenience.

E-learning enables users to achieve knowledge till they are convinced with what they have received, unlike traditional classroom instruction. Due to elearning, experts in the expansive area of healthcare can investigate any topic of interest.

10. E-learning Courses can be designed specifically for the Targeted audience. 

Several elearning healthcare systems permit the development of several online courses. In addition, e-learning enables instructors to customise their sessions to meet healthcare education objectives. Students might, for instance, exercise "death or life" decisions in class. In addition, courses may be case-oriented, and students might immediately observe the consequences of their actions.

Online education enables students to make personal investments.

Thanks to elearning, healthcare practitioners may keep abreast of new advancements and maintain their competence. E-learning enables individuals to acquire new skills, information, and certifications, ensuring their success in current and future professions.

11. This lets the Patients get better Treatment.

Knowledge and education are crucial for supporting the individuals you work for. The better your knowledge, the greater your chances of enhancing your patients' quality of life. E-learning will provide you with the assistance to accomplish this goal.

12. Learning Destination Websites

An LDW is a website that offers courses from multiple suppliers. These websites may be viewed as storefronts.

Udemy, Coursera, Elearn college and Skillshare are the most frequent learning destination websites.

Learning management systems (LMSs) are platforms where users may create and host online courses. The course administrator is permitted to create courses, maintain student profiles, report student grades, and carry out other fundamental duties typical of online programs.

Open-Source learning management systems

They provide the same capabilities and alternatives as proprietary systems. The primary distinction is that most of these platforms offer free services and are customisable.

Sakai, Open edX and Moodle are frequent open source LMSs.

Modern Learning Management solutions

Usually, LMS systems are frequently a source of dissatisfaction since they are out of touch with recent trends and technical advancements. Modern learning management systems emphasise student experience and pedagogies absent from earlier LMSs.

Like Docebo, Motivis, and NovedEd, numerous businesses provide contemporary learning management systems.

Learning Management Ecosystems

Another type of elearning platform is the learning management ecosystem. Companies integrate the best ideas into a unified framework in this paradigm.

For example, the Nexus platform is an LMS at Notre Dame University. This platform is based on Open edX and incorporates several other software applications.

Custom-Built LMS

Custom Learning management system development meets business, academic, and pedagogical requirements. This approach needs considerable resources and time, making it an expensive option, but it assures total control.

For example, HBX is a custom-designed elearning platform used by Harvard Business School.

Elearning for healthcare workers 

E-learning rose to dominance in the early 2000s, and in 2020, its utilisation and popularity expanded substantially. Due to e-learning's benefits in healthcare and contemporary demands, students joining schools that offer elearning is consistently increasing.

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, total college enrolment in the US has decreased until 2020. However, schools that solely offer online training are experiencing growth. In the autumn of the year 2020 and the spring of 2021, online university enrollment increased by 7%. The rate was 5% in the spring of 2020.

However, there are a few problems surrounding elearning. Many educators find it challenging to sustain student interest. Due to a lack of basic digital abilities, several educators found it difficult to adjust to this advanced teaching technique. Nonetheless, many students do not have access to a fast internet connection or computers, making elearning unsuitable for everyone.

Nonetheless, these obstacles are not deadly. Institutions of higher education can provide courses and training for their professors. This will assist them in understanding how to utilise elearning systems and adapt more quickly to changes. Alternatively, instructors may promote a good learning attitude in their pupils to preserve their enthusiasm and enhance their learning.

Families in need can get funding for equipment if governments are willing to increase the standard of schooling. They can even give them the required hardware to guarantee that everyone accesses high-quality elearning.

Conclusion

In the past decade, elearning did not have the reach and popularity it has now. Nonetheless, it has had sustained growth over the past twenty-five years. As a result of technology improvements, healthcare professionals worldwide can now join recognised schools and begin improving their skills and expertise.

Because of the substantial advantages of elearning for health and social care professionals, this trend will continue in the future, allowing healthcare workers to provide better Treatment and care for patients.