Abstract
The rise of technology has transformed the way we teach and learn. eLearning has been adopted in most organisations and has the advantage of supporting and adding value to employees’ intellect and augmenting mankind in the way they live and work. It plays an important role as a strong catalyst, being used by practically every educational institution to conduct online learning, examinations, assessments, and evaluations, make online payments, and retrieve electronic manuscripts and papers (Bhatnagar et al., 2021). One of the primary benefits of eLearning is its ability to personalize learning. With the help of digital tools, skills development providers can create individualized learning experiences for employees, this will provide them an opportunity to learn in their preferred learning style. According to a study by the National Education Association, personalized learning can improve academic outcomes, as it empowers employees to take ownership of their learning, which increases their motivation to learn, and helps them to develop problem- solving and critical thinking abilities (National Education Association, 2021).
While there are numerous benefits of eLearning, there are also some potential drawbacks that must be considered. The National Center for Education Statistics reports state that approximately 14 percent of households lack access to internet at home, and the percentage is much higher in rural and low-income areas, (National Center for Education Statistics, 2020). This means that many people may not have access to the technology required for digital learning, putting them at a disadvantage. In addition, some employees have found eLearning to be less effective than traditional classroom learning, particularly for learning programmes that are safety significant, such as those in the railway industry. This may be due to the lack of interaction and engagement that can occur in an online environment or the flexibility of eLearning tools. eLearning has both pros and cons, and it is important to consider both as we continue to integrate technology into education. While personalized learning, a wider range of resources, and distance learning are all valuable benefits, we must also be mindful of the digital divide, potential distractions, and online learning that is quality. In this research study, we will assess eLearning tools and strategies in the railway learning ecosystem.