Learning is not confined by the walls of a classroom, boardroom, office, or cubicle. For years, philosophers, teachers, trainers, and instructional designers have realized the importance of experience. Even Yankee legend Yogi Berra proclaimed, “Bill Dickey is learning me his experience.”

However, it’s not always possible—or safe—to let people participate in real-world events for the sake of learning. Are you able to send your entire sales force to Tokyo for diversity training? Would you be willing to let new team members oversee the handling of hazardous materials? In our e-Learning universe, developers have worked feverishly to incorporate the social and emotional aspects associated with real-world events with the interactivity and immediacy of classroom training to create easy-to-access electronic packages for anytime/anywhere learning.

Studies reveal that students like to learn in a community environment where they can project themselves socially and emotionally. The expanded use of webinars and the introduction of wikis and blogs have moved us closer to meeting learners’ desires for social networking. And now with advancements in technology and innovative authoring tools, simulations have become the method of choice for bringing real-world scenarios to employees unable to experience them first hand. These components coupled with existing e-Learning strategies allow developers to incorporate both the teacher-focused pedagogic approach to education that offers directive instruction and guided discovery, and the learner-focused andragogic theory that promotes experience and participation to teach adults effectively.

In the not too distant past, anytime/anywhere learning meant users could view specific courseware at their own pace—as long as they had access to a computer and possibly an Internet connection…and had two to four hours to dedicate to the training. Today, Web 2.0 technologies and content sliced into small, specific chunks have paved the way for microlearning. Laptops, mobile phones, and other hand-held devices make it possible for true anytime/anywhere learning. Want to review company procedures in a cab between sales calls? No problem. Need step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting a power supply problem at a remote facility? Sure. Interested in improving your golf swing while waiting in line at the grocery store? Why not? The evolution of e-Learning means that training and educational opportunities now fit into the busy lives of learners rather than the other way around.