Originally published 2021/06/27

eLearning evolved as a way to spread content beyond the classroom without the physical attachment to a place or teacher. eLearning has afforded us the ability to learn anytime, anyplace. But I can't imagine a future that is fully without its own form of "classrooms." I think that, with technology, students will be able to observe a virtual classroom setting and, at times, participate in live discussions, all available through home-accessible technology. I don't think we will ever loose the personal interactions that a learning environment benefits from, and I hope that as technology advances, we will be brought back to the personal connection component. I am always brought back to the idea of a "choose-your-own-adventure" education, in which people can customize their own learning to their own needs and interests. As technology advances further, I would like to see algorithms that also advance to know learners better and that can further customize curriculums.

As technology emerges, we push the limit of what is possible, sometimes without regard for if we should push that far. I sometimes think that the dependence on eLearning is too great, and people want to use is as a band aid for a plethora of other problems. While I don’t believe the dependence on eLearning will change, I hope that the field can advance far enough to be the support that more learners need.