In the last century, we have moved from the Industrial Age through the Information Age to the
Knowledge Age. The ability to obtain, assimilate, and apply the right knowledge effectively has
become a key skill in this century and Learning is the key to achieving our full potential. Our
survival in the 21st century as individuals, organizations, and nations will depend upon our
capacity to learn and the application of what we learn to our daily lives. E-learning was first called
“Internet-Based Training” and then “Web-Based Training”. E-learning is not only about training
and instruction but also about learning that is tailored to individuals (N et al., 2012).
E-learning has the potential to transform how and when students learn. Learning has become more
integrated with work and uses shorter, more modular, just-in-time delivery systems. E-learning
delivers content through electronic information and communications technologies. By leveraging
technologies, e-learning is bridging the gap between learning and distance. Students can integrate
learning into their respective works and homes more effectively because they use the same tools
and technology for learning.
Different terminologies have been used to define learning that takes place online, a fact that makes
it difficult to develop a generic definition (N et al., 2012). It includes the delivery of content via
Internet, Intranet, and Extranet, satellite broadcast, audio-video tape, interactive TV, and CDROM. Nonetheless, the different terminologies point to a similarly conceived educational
experience. All of these terms imply that the learner is at a distance from the tutor or instructor,
that the learner uses some form of technology (usually a computer) to access the learning material,
and that the learner uses technology to interact with the tutor or instructor and other learners, and
that some form of support is provided to learners. E-learning refers to the use of information and
communication technology (ICT) to enhance and/or support learning in tertiary education. The
evolution of e-learning has been a journey of innovation, technology, and educational theory,
redesigning how we learn and teach.
Historical development
The roots of e-learning can be traced to the 19th century when instructional materials were sent
through mail as part of some correspondence courses. This form of instruction marked the genesis
of distance learning, making education accessible to those unable to attend traditional classes, with
Sir Isaac Pitman the pioneer in 1840. Student’s Assignment tasks were sent by mail and students
used to submit works back after completion. Using the then-new facility of broadcasting sound to
reach the masses, Iowa University of United States introduced the first “radio course” of five credit
hours in 1925 (Moore & Kearsley, 2005) as cited in (Niaz et al., 2021). These distance learning
courses were taught by using radio which led the audio system to the instructional delivery of
lectures. The telephone and then television were introduced by the University of Iowa in the mid-
1930s as a tool to be used in distance courses. With the growing interest of students in such types
of courses in the United States, some “Tele-Courses” were developed by the Annenberg
Foundation along with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) for universities even in
some remote areas of Alaska, which were affected by harsh weather which did not allow students
to come to campuses (Niaz et al., 2021).
The introduction of computers and computer-based training in the 1960s and 1970s also brought
about the introduction of computers in educational settings. It became popular by allowing for
interactive learning experiences through simulation and tutorials helping people to access
educational material in the comfort of their homes at their pace with the aid of the internet.
Computer-based Training served as a medium of instruction through CD ROMs and DVDs and
sometimes via the internet using web browsers. The introduction of the Internet in the 1990s serve
as a pivotal moment for e-learning which lead to the development of learning management
systems, online courses, and virtual classrooms. With the aid of the internet and computers people
could learn without visiting the traditional classroom.
