The benefits of e-learning systems are not, though, without disadvantages, and many respondents to a Survey of e-Learning in Africa Based on a Questionnaire Survey of People on the e-Learning Africa Database in 2007 drew attention to these, typified by the following:
Moodle has a quite steep learning curve and it needs a fair time investment in face-to-face, hands-on, training to get started, which is not easy to arrange when working on a voluntary base. The saying „The first online course you do well is the second“ is very true. To overcome this starting inertia is very hard because it takes time to really deeply understand the potential of eL and see the results, especially when working with a foreign language and being a newbie with PC. Prompt tutoring is crucial (Burundi) See also: Workshop A10: A Hands-On Guide to Using an Open Source Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle)
One of the pre-conference events related to agriculture and the environment: Technology-Supported Learning for Environmental Education. The overall objective of this seminar was to further the implementation of Decision 6 of the 12th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment 12 (AMCEN-12)1, which addressed the interrelated issues of environmental education and technology-supported learning with the aim of mainstreaming technology-supported learning in African environmental institutions to enhance the delivery of environmental education, training and awareness-raising.
Speakers and participants at the seminar included decision-makers, eLearning experts, educators, environmental education programme managers, eLearning programme managers and information specialists working in international organisations, UN agencies, environment ministries, environmental protection agencies, universities, non-governmental organisations, research institutions and the private sector.
