but,let’s face it, “e-learning” *has* aquired a meaning, and this is “top-down managed learning”, with clearly separated roles & rights, with LMSs, quizzes and – sometimes – embedded WBTs. the term has been burned, no chance reclaiming it.

I am a distance teacher. I am employed at The Correspondence School, Wellington, New Zealand.

I concur with much of what you say with a few provisos.

Distance learners can use CBT and they’re still distance learners. You are right. It’s not really elearning no more than watching TV, a video or DVD could be considered elearning. I am aware that some people (experts?) would call what I’ve just described ‘elearning’.

Elearning can also be distance learning. In most instances where elearning is used appropriately, the term distance learning can also apply.

If I could draw a Venn diagram in a comment on your blog I would. Distance learning would be a circle in the universal set of all learning methods. Looped into that circle would be elearning.

That means some distance learners are also elearners. Some elearners are not necessarily distance learners, and some distance learners are certainly not elearners.

BUT . . .

The term elearning has become a moveable feast, I’m afraid. Even CBT (learning from a DVD/TV/video/video-conferencing/taped program/hard-wired program) is shoved into the category of elearning. I am loath to concede that any learning exclusively by these methods alone or even blended-with-other-paper-based-distance-learning techniques is elearning.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth