Engaged Learning

Sometimes Mother Nature likes to re-assert herself in little ways—like the recently erupting Eyjafjallajokull (AY-yah-fyah-lah-YOH-kuul) volcano in Iceland for instance. Millions of tons of volcanic ash spewing into the atmosphere does seem to engage our attention! For a few days the world learned about Iceland, volcanoes, and the affect of an eruption on air travel. Some people likely went online to learn more about these subjects. After all, it’s a headline grabbing 3D spectacle accompanied by fireworks and deafening sound.

The Cost of Travel

Of course, rocky grit—such as volcanic ash—does not play well with precision mechanical parts operating at high speed. Cars, helicopters, and planes tend to break down in very gritty, dusty conditions. So when the Icelandic volcano erupted and its enormous ash clouds began blowing over the skies over Europe, air traffic over much of the continent ground to a complete halt for days. People were stranded everywhere. Travel became, well, difficult. The well known Monty Python cast member and actor John Cleese was stranded in Norway by the ash cloud. No longer “pining for the fjords”, a $5,100 taxi ride finally got him to Belgium. Which brings us at long last to what a volcano has to do with e-Learning.

E-Learning Trends

ASTD (American Society for Training & Development) Learning Circuits recently asked readers how e-learning is being used in their organizations. Customer service was the leading application. Obviously it is easier to provide customer service if travel time, travel expense and volcano eruptions can be eliminated!

E-Learning Benefits Highlighted by a Volcanic Eruption

Iceland’s volcano reminds us that e-Learning takes place online via the learner’s computer—no travel required. It has an accessibility that travel based alternatives can’t match. E-Learning is not stopped by erupting volcanoes. Expensive, time consuming travel by taxi is not needed. In fact, it’s not even a consideration. So there you have it. In a match between a volcano and e-Learning, e-Learning wins. But thanks for the fireworks, Mother Nature.