Elearning has expanded along with the development of computing power throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The concept of eLearning has gone from simply providing students with information to a way to access large amounts of information and provide access to advanced learning for students of all ages. What’s more, eLearning has moved out of the realm of the classroom and into the business realm.

Companies now use learning opportunities to develop their talent. The use of eLearning in the fields of academia and business has manifested itself as integral to the development of students, teachers and employees. As a result, eLearning has prospered as a way to provide information and enhance learning opportunities to the public at large.

Elearning is loosely defined as the use of the Internet and other digital technologies to educate people without geographical boundaries. And it’s a new definition, first employed in 2001 when Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was introduced during an internet-based seminar. Interactive CDs and PDF text files came into the picture shortly after, and soon schools and businesses were embracing eLearning as a way to save money, and time and repurpose content into digital formats for easier digestion.

Yet, it was around 2005 that eLearning began to evolve yet again. Upgraded technologies and methodologies made CDs and PDFs somewhat irrelevant. It wasn’t long before institutions and businesses were using PowerPoint and learning management systems (LMS). The pace of change began to really pick up when people gained access to wireless internet technologies, scalable vector graphics, 3D modeling, social media networks, and so much more.

By 2010 and beyond, eLearning tools became quite commonplace. With new companies developing digital tools to allow anyone to build their own courses, suddenly the sky was the limit. With technology advancing at a rapid clip and geographical boundaries no longer a problem, learning underwent a massive shift. From podcasting to mobile internet, learning analytics augmented reality, and more, companies suddenly had a lot more options to ensure their people got the training they needed and deserved.

Other notable achievements in eLearning included:

• Educational gaming
• User-created content
• Library digitization
• Virtual worlds
• Gesture-based computing
• eBooks
• And more!

The fact is, eLearning is here to stay, and here at The Learning Network, we’re proud to bring together companies that innovate in this space. No matter your learning need, it’s likely you can find the solution right here under the roof of The Learning Network.