A survey conducted by the Campaign for Learning, KPMG, Ufi Ltd and Peter Honey Learning between June and August 2000, have highlighted practices and attitudes towards e-learning and from this have published their findings in a report outlining some of the issues involved with this method of training:

• The majority of e-learning takes place at work
  
• A third of e-learners do most of their learning at home
  
• The internet is the preferred method of e-learning
  
• CD-ROM's are also favoured, however mainly in the private sector
  
• Most of e-learning is work related and required by employers
  
• Informal e-learning tends to cover personal interests and take place outside of working hours
  
• The quality of e-learning is rated more highly when it is informal

Even though on the whole, positive attitudes from both individuals and providers were shown towards e-learning, this did not mean that a preference for this method of learning was given over any other forms.

other issues also highlighted are:

• The need to have learning support whilst partaking in e-learning
  
• There appears to be a lack of data about e-learning being collated
  
• Providers are not spending enough annually on developing new course material
  
• There is a positive attitude on the whole regarding e-learning as it is thought to be convenient
  
• The main benefits of e-learning are helping people to 'keep-up-to-date' and goes towards satisfying peoples individual interests and curiosity
  
• The majority of e-learners had not experienced problems with the technology involved in e-learning

The survey highlighted the benefits of e-learning as follows:

• Accessibility to e-learning material
  
• Reduces contact time needed between tutors and e-learners
  
• Employers value e-learning as it reduces time spent 'off-the-job
  
• This last point may also stem to the fact that employers use e-learning for employees to learn outside working hours

How e-learning compares with traditional learning approaches are:

• E-learning is as effective as other methods
  
• The future of learning does not lie solely with e-learning
  
• It is not clear as to whether e-learning is more cost effective than other forms of learning

Negative aspects of e-learning are:

• It is impersonal, frustrating and lonely
  
• Easy to waste time, computers crash
  
• Learning programmes and software difficult to find, or are of poor quality or too gimmicky
  
• E-learning material is not sufficiently developed

Further information can be obtained from visiting the Campaign for Learning website or full copies of the e-learning survey can be purchased from the Campaign for Learning, c/o Southgate Publishers, price £6.95 + p&p (tel: 01363 776 888) or e-mail djohnstone@southgatepublishers.co.uk