Adopting E-Learning for In-Service Training of Nigeria’s Public Servant

Abstract

This article considers the adoption of e-learning for the in-service training of public servants in Nigeria. It starts from the view that education is a fundamental investment in human capital and that developing the capacity of public officers, who formulate and implement policies in critical areas of the economy, is essential to organisational effectiveness and to the quality of services offered to citizens, with training presented as a key approach to capacity development. The article then reviews the concept of e-learning, noting that there is no universally accepted definition and discussing how scholars distinguish e-learning from online learning, online training and distance learning, and how it relates to forms such as computer-based learning, web-based training, virtual learning environments and mobile learning. E-learning is described as connecting learning and technology, delivered through learning management systems such as Moodle and Blackboard, and offering flexibility of time, place and pace, interactivity, collaboration, and self-directed and personalised learning. The growth of the e-learning market and the role of technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence are also outlined. The article points to the need for research on the factors that influence e-learning adoption, such as quality, particularly in developing countries, and draws on literature on the challenges of e-learning in Nigeria and in public-sector organisations.

Abstract prepared by the editorial office from the full text of the article; the authors did not supply one.