Module 5: The Cost and Costing of E-Learning In Module 5, we discussed the cost and costing of e-learning.

In Unit 1, various types of e-learning were described their effect on technology. There are various forms of e-learning which include type-i and type-c communication. Type-I communication is one s ability to e!change information. "ith this form of communication, it is one-way, students receive no support and it is learner content centered. Type-c communication involves interaction between teacher-learner and learner-learner through various technologies. It involves two-way communication and provides students with support. Type-I communication is less costly than type-c communication. #owever, I prefer type-c communication giving me the ability to communicate with teachers and other students via email, discussions boards, and group chat areas. UMU$ has a lot of type-I communication features provided to its students. In Unit %, computer based training &$'T( and web based training &"'T( were discussed. $'T is a student s ability to learn by computers. "'T is a tool designed for creating and delivering instruction over the web. )s student-teacher interaction increase in a *+ environment so will fi!ed and variable costs. Therefore, an increase in interaction tends to drive up cost and a decrease in interaction ,eeps cost relatively low. -i!ed costs will increase when new programmes are considered and variable costs per student will increase when student-teacher interaction is demanded. .ariable cost tends to erode scale of economies. In Unit /, we discussed virtual seminar and scale of economies and scalability. 0cale of economies is concerned with how much can be saved and scalability is concerned with costing needed to support a service. In most instances, virtual seminars are e!pensive and there will be no scale of economies. .irtual seminars are updated on an ongoing basis, therefore costing more money. -or e!ample, in assignment / for our group assignment we had five video modules for our course. Money was spent on copyright clearance and updating the video modules, this became very costly. *+ course are more costly and less-cost effective than a traditional course for reasons such as updating the course with the most recent technology.

1eference2 #uelsmann, T. &%334(. 5uest +ditorial-6ow $ost *istance +ducation 0trategies2 The use of appropriate information and communication technologies. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning. 5&1(. 1etrieved from http277www.irrodl.org7inde!.php7irrodl7article7view71857%58