Chapter 8 described a variety of important aspects of eLearning. What stood out to me this week were the disadvantages of eLearning as described by the text. The reason that this particular section stood out to me was because for the other course most of us in the LDT program are taking (EDIT 6100 with Dr. Orey), this week we were asked to write an abstract of an article that critiqued some aspect of instructional technology. This assignment was interesting because we were required to find examples of articles/books that pointed out potential flaws in integrating technology into education, summarize, and provide our own perspective.

Here are a few of the disadvantages the chapter cites:
-Technical support for users who are participating in distance learning might not be easily accessible
-The learner can be overwhelmed with the wide variety of information that is available online
-All learners' needs may not be met by the instructor due to the fact that some individuals may perform better with more structure or face to face interaction

While I think these are valid points that need to be considered when teaching (or participating in) an eLearning experience, I think the benefits definitely outweigh the drawbacks. A few that were noted in the chapter include:
-Convenience (learners have more flexibility/ability to set their own schedule)
-Exposure (greater chance of interacting with people/resources outside who/what might normally be available in a face to face setting)
-Responsibility (learners are required to take personal responsibility for their growth and must develop important skills such as the ability to work independently)

As I mentioned above, it was an interesting take to consider the potential drawbacks of eLearning, but again, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives for me as a learner.