As it is well known the e-learning or electronic learning refers to the acquisition of knowledge and skill using electronic technologies such as computer- and Internetbased courseware and local and wide area networks.
However this concept has constantly been redefined by people or group or people who have particular purposes.
According to Hughes (2009) it is a much broader concept than the Computer Based Training or Computer Aided Instruction which first appeared in the 1980s and more all embracing than ‘On- line Learning’, which appeared a decade later (with the growth of the World Wide Web) and refers to web-based learning.
The last ten years has appeared a huge range of related terms – on-line learning, web-based learning, technology based training, technology enhanced learning – the list is endless. The purists insist there are important distinctions between them and this may be the case. In practice, a lot of people use the terms interchangeably and still manage to communicate with each other perfectly well so don’t worry about it.
Here we have some types of tools of e- learning:
Blogging: A personal publishing tool that means any individual or group can publish on the web and receive feedback from others. Enables you to embed resources such as images, YouTube videos and Slideshare presentations.
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Micro blogg: Enables you to stay in touch and update your contacts on where you are and what you are doing. Usually formatted to respond to the question “Where are you now...” or “what are you thinking...” with a strict limit (about 140 – 150characters) on the length of the response.
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Wikis: A collaborative tool for setting up easily edited websites which have content added and amended by readers.
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Podcasting: Making and broadcasting your own audio and video material on the web so that others can listen or download your work.
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Screen capture and screen casting: Instantly captures and shares images on your computer screen and enables you to add audio.
Video hosting and sharing: You can upload and store videos using webcams, camcorders and mobile phones and allow others to share them. You can also search or browse videos made by others and comment on them.
Presentation sharing: If you create presentations using Keynote or PowerPoint you can store them, tag them and share them on-line. You can make them availably publicly, privately, downloadable or not and can synchronize them with an audio file.
Social bookmarking: You do not need to store your bookmarks in your browser any longer. You can tag them, store them on-line and share them with others.
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Collaborative slideshows: Using PowerPoint presentations and pictures, you can create an audio slideshow and audio comments can be left by others.
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