To monitor e-Learning, it is essential to be able to measure it. There are many measures that can be applied to e-Learning, not least its effectiveness as learning tool for different groups. One of the measures that an organisation introducing e-Learning will need to make is the uptake of e-Learning across the organisation. To measure uptake, you must know your starting point. It’s not unusual to find ICT audits and surveys taking place at the start of an e-Learning initiative.

Uptake says little about the quality of the learning experience but it does tell you who is using it, whether its use is increasing or decreasing and enables the evaluator to spot patterns in usage.

There may be many reasons why those supporting learning do not use it and they might include lack of skills, lack of access, personal dislike etc. Monitoring e-Learning will not make it more effective but it will indicate to managers and those responsible for developing e-Learning strategies, whether their approach is working and where more support is needed. It also shows whether the investment in e-Learning represents value for money in relation to uptake.