E-Learning and Soft Skills

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how soft skills are critical for the success of e-education-based students and how these skills are accentuated over time when students must rely on distant relationships in order to sustain and increase their performance in online programs. The paper examines e-education and its implications for learning and explains that teaching approaches that work well in person don't translate online easily. The paper also identifies the need to create interactive communication online despite major differences in time zones. The paper concludes that distance learning's growth potential needs to be seen relative to the challenges that this approach has today and in the future. The paper also shows how soft skills are critical for any student's long-term competitiveness in a career and they are necessary for excelling in a distance learning environment.

Outline:
E-Education and Its Implications on Learning
Global Reach of Web-Based Learning
Web-based Curriculum Development
Web-Based Learning Results and Outcomes
Summary and Conclusions

From the Paper:

"In Sloan Consortium (2005) there is ample evidence of distance learning programs reaching parity in terms of participation with in-person programs, and this in large part due to soft skills becoming more prevalent in their development as a result of greater student co-operation in e-education programs. Figure 1 shows this dynamic taking shape regarding the penetration of online courses relative to their in-class and in-person counterparts. 100% in Associates at the Graduate level, which Sloan Consortium defines as a market segment where for every in-person graduate program there is an online one available."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Dr. David Marshall Hunt (2005). Web-based Distance Learning: Substitute or Alternative to the Traditional Classroom: Making the Delivery Method Decision. Online Journal of Distance Education Learning. Retreived December 3rd, 2005 from the Web: http://www.westga.edu/%7Edistance/ojdla/fall83/hunt83.htm
• Howell, Lindsay and Williams (2003). Thirty-two trends Affecting Distance Education: An Informed Foundation for Strategic Foundation. Online Journal of Distance Education Learning. Retrieved from the Web on December 4th, 2005: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/fall63/howell63.html
• Kantrowitz, Tracy (2005) - Development and Construct Validation of a Measure of Soft Skills Performance. Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology March 2, 2005
• Lance Travis (2005). E-Learning Fills Skills Gap. Line56 Magazine and Line56.com website. Retrieved December 4th, 2005 from the Web: http://www.line56.com/articles/default.asp?articleID=7146&TopicID=6
• McGreal, Dr. R. (2004, March). Development Principles for Online Courses: A Baker's Dozen. Retrieved December 3, 2005 from the Web: http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=best_practices&article=33-1

More papers on E-Learning and Soft Skills:

• Term Paper # 145170 : "Soft Skills in Business Management"
• Essay # 30395 : "Distance Learning and the Internet."
• Research Paper # 16395 : "Teaching Emotional and Social Skills"

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