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The survival of humans has depended upon our ability to learn from others. Right from the start we have learned from each other by speech, observation and eventually by the written word. However things are changing.

In the last few decades, a new and fundamentally different form of learning has emerged. This form of learning requires only one human, the learner. Instruction is carried out via a computer, which has the advantage that it never grows frustrated or impatient with the student and will repeat the lesson an indefinite number of times.

However, the first attempts to replace the human instructor were not successful. Early programs that were little more than drill and practice were dull and students lost interest very quickly. The repetitive nature and lack of originality proved to be a near-fatal weakness. The first online courses were little more than correspondence courses, where the correspondence was electronic rather than via letters. As was the case with correspondence courses, a small percentage of the students did well, but most found them inadequate.

It turns out that the successful electronic delivery of learning material is very hard, much harder than the traditional method. It requires new forms of thought and a great deal of attention to detail such as colors and sounds. Electronic delivery also requires a level of sensory stimulation, such as a combination of visual and audio, which is consistent with traditional modes of learning.

- Charles Ashbacher

E-learning instruction was never a viable alternative until content could be delivered using multimedia that could deliver the training that complied with how people learn. However, the power of modern computers and the speed of the internet can and has convinced many that developing and delivering e-learning content is easier than it actually is. Many authors and developers have developed products based upon their opinion and have ignored e-learning guidelines based upon empirical research evidence.

Blue Dog are currently delivering training to over 1300 apprentices across Queensland and this success proves that training that incorporates e-learning can be done and done well. The completion rate by students undertaking training with Blue Dog Training has been spectacular, far exceeding the State and National average. This can be attributed to the fact that, right from the start, Blue Dog Training grasped the complexity of delivering effective training using e-learning strategies and incorporated additional tools and individual trainer support to encourage students while delivering valid results. This was not the 'easy' or 'cheap' option but the successful outcomes justify the effort.