Why is E-Learning Important in Creating a Knowledge-Dissemination System?

The developer of an e-learning system faces several
challenges in designing systems for an online learning
environment that ensures strong, effective, and secure
learner interaction that best replaces the face-to-face
interaction taking place on-site in the workplace and in
training sessions (Alavi & Leidner, 1999). In addition to
having a clear understanding of the knowledge-type
requirements, the challenge is in supporting good pedagogy
and learning practices given technical and other
constraints. Technical constraints include bandwidth,
quality of service (QoS), real-time interactions, support
for multiple users, and security requirements. In
parallel, instructional design that incorporates appropriate
pedagogical techniques into a rich repertoire of
learning resources is needed for creating a dynamic elearning
environment. These pedagogical techniques, if
tailored to specific knowledge types, can improve productivity
by sharing best practices within an organizational
community (Agresti, 2003; Castro, Foster, Gunn,
& Roberts, 2003; Spender, 1996). An enabling online
knowledge-dissemination environment should allow for
dynamic networked online interaction to create a noncompetitive
atmosphere that values both explicit and
tacit knowledge dissemination, and the conversion of
knowledge between these types to enable learning
(Applen, 2002).