When computers were first used for educational purposes, the "electronic learning" concept begun.
There were two main efforts:
Behaviorism (Skinner with his programmed instruction concepts and devices),
Constructivism (Papert whth his Logo language, and artificial intelligence concepts)
Then computers evolved (the PC era begun) and educational software and educational resources emerged (Ex. CD's).
The "electronic learning" concept began to include this technological elements.
When the Web began to be massified and computers were connected through it, everything changed and the "e-" terms began: e-Mail, e-Commerce, e-Buisness and, of course, e-Learning.
e-Learning certainly means "electronic learning", but not in its "traditional" sense (associated to computers and educational software and resources).
Its meaning is related to the Web (not to hardware and software).
So, e-Learning implies the use of the Web with an educational or training purpose.
But as the Web is like an interface used to access a lot of Internet resources, services and technologies (Ex. forums, wikis, blogs, mail, etc.), e-Learning refers to the way we use these elements to build a virtual experience that will bring us knowledge, as a result of an instructional process.
PS Distance education also tried to use technology for educating people. Nevertheless, its main focus is radio, TV and the cinema. Its very common to confuse e-Learning with distance education, because through the Web you can interact with people from differente lattitudes. e-Learning has nothing to do with geographical bareers, but with the use of the Web. You can have e-Learning in a room were all students are there.
