I read an article recently that Elearning is going to take off in 2009 as the tool of choice for internal, partner, and even customer training. Of course you read a lot of predictions these days about emerging new trends and most never happen. The funny thing is that elearning could be a biggie but I don't think that's going to happen until people figure out that it's not about Elearning, it's about Eteaching.

Case in point, a company has a multi-million dollar investment in a learning management system plus 100+ online training modules. They still have to pay their employees $50 each time they take a course. Why? Is the problem they have employees who are unmotivated to improve themselves? Not likely. Or is the problem in the courseware?

Today there is a proliferation of new elearning authoring products. Have powerpoint presentations? Instantly convert them into a snappy online course, add some quizzes and games (interactions), import some slick graphics, audio, or video, post them on your server, and you've got elearning! But is it any good? Does the technology make a great teaching tool all by itself? We seem to think so. Even many professional elearning development companies rely on the quality of the users content when they "package" it into online learning modules.

Every school teacher knows that there is more to achieving learning with his or her students than just presenting the facts. Games, quizzes, and interesting visual presentations help but there is still a skill called Teaching that makes all the difference - not only whether people learn but how anxious they are to do so. Our challenge is figuring out how to do it in this new online education medium.

Personally I love elearning and it makes real sense today as a way to train folks on demand or "just in time". It can be incredibly cost effective. But to be successful courses still must be developed by those who know how to teach, not just present.

It's not about Elearning ... it's about Eteaching!