Why does elearning exist?

 Elearning is one of those niches that does not deserve to exist. Yes, it was a novelty 20 years ago, but not now. It cannot exist. But somehow it does. Disclaimer: I used to head a content team once upon a time. And I used to ask those whom I hired - tell me the last thing you learnt from an e-learning. The answer is - pretty much nothing (and this is a good decade ago). 

Why? 

If you want to learn a recipe, you go to Youtube, or Reels or something like that. If you are terribly old fashioned - as in, you read - then you go to a website and read the recipe and make it. 

Most other things you learn by doing or learning on the job or asking an expert. 

If you have to learn something in depth, then there are other ways. 

So, where does e-learning fit in all this?

E-learning is one of those products that the customer hates, but has no choice, because someone has decided it is the best way. For instance, you have to learn a new CRM or some other product - you want to learn how-to and someone has to keep track of it (for a variety of reasons including some sort of certification/badge/incentive) - the answer is just one - elearning + scorm. 

My hunch, the whole reason e-learning exists is because of mistrust. You dont trust your employee to complete the compliance course if it was any other way. Or you cant trust your customer to learn every part of your product properly. So, you need a scorm compliant elearning to measure every key stroke, answer every question and see every screen and read every sentence. Its a prison. 

This is how compliance courses are measured and reported - it is simply the most cost effective way with numbers attached.

And so it exists. 

[Disclaimer: This is a purely personal opinion and it does not intend to offend anyone in any industry or role or job.]