Many companies considering e-learning are concerned they do not have the infrastructure. While this may have been true in the past, infrastructure demands for modern e-learning are far less difficult to meet than in the past, with much of the hardware commonly available in the modern workplace.

Of course, the set up for e-learning can vary greatly from just an ordinary PC to complex learning laboratories with servers and networks.

Although there are e-learning systems which operate from local files accessed, for instance, from a CD ROM, most e-learning today uses some form of networked systems. This means you need a connection to the internet. And, once more, whilst this can be provided through a dial up modem over an ordinary telephone line, e-learning is much more effective with a broadband connection allowing faster access times, the transfer of larger files and better two way communication. Although in the past broadband was expensive, it is now available in most areas of Europe and the price is rapidly falling.

Learners will also usually need access to a computer with an internet connection. Of course, they may already have a suitable PC which they use for work anyway. In other cases they will not. One option is to provide a pool of laptops, possibly providing internet access through a local wireless network. These technologies have become much cheaper and easier to set up in the last two years.

Much depends on how and when you foresee learners taking part in e-learning activities, on the nature of your business, on the work tasks of the learner and on the design of your work processes. If learning can take place at the workplace, when work is slack, then participants may be able to use their own work PC. Remember, though, that they will need 'dedicated' time, for learning. If the telephone is persistently ringing, it can be very difficult to concentrate on learning!

8.1 Learning stations

Another option that many companies have adopted, especially larger enterprises, is to set up a dedicated learning area or station in the enterprise. This can be used at set times for particular courses, or as a drop in centre, accessed in work time, in breaks or out of work hours. One advantage of setting up a dedicated learning area is that it allows provision of support materials. Although much learning can be undertaken using computers, books, manuals and journals are still very important.

Another plus for dedicated learning centres, is that blended learning has become very popular. This simply means that e-learning is 'blended' together with more traditional forms of training - including face to face teaching, coaching and one to one support. In this situation the learning centre can be used for access to e-learning facilities, can be used as teaching room and also can provide access to additional learning resources.

Yet another idea, which some major companies, particularly those in the production sector, have adopted, is learning islands. Learning islands simulate real production processes, allowing trainees to practice those tasks that they will be engaged with in their jobs, but without risk of disrupting the workflow and without fear of mistakes interrupting production. This can be particularly important in continuous production processes. It can also allow the simulation of problems and unexpected errors which workers may have with as part of their job.

8.2 Mobile learning

Mobile learning or 'm-learning' has become increasingly popular recently. E-Learning is accessed through mobile devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) or smart mobile telephones. This has become possible as these devices have become more powerful, networking standards have improved and the ability to provide internet content to mobiles has increased. There are a number of obvious advantages to m-learning:

• Mobile devices are relatively cheap
• Learning can be accessed at any time
• M-learning gives access to people working at a distance form the workplace or in jobs and situations in which it is not possible to provide access to computers

Examples of where m-learning has been deployed include on construction sites and for sales representatives. M-learning has also been used to provide additional access for learners to practice and reinforce what they have learnt through more traditional e-learning, for example on trains or at home if they do not have access to a home PC.

Of course there are down sides to mobile devices for learning. Screen size and resolution can be a big problem, as can the use of small keyboards (although most young people seem to have no problem text messaging on mobile phones!).

As with most issues addressed in this handbook, there is no single answer to the question of infrastructure. The most important thing is that learners have access to the hardware and infrastructure they need to meet the needs of the subject they are learning, at a time and place which fits the way in which they are comfortable in learning and in which they feel comfortable and secure. Of course, most learners will require support and that will be dealt with in another section of the handbook.

One final comment should be added here. Most e-learning applications do not require the very latest in fast, up to date PCs. Very often older computers can be reconfigured to provide quite adequate machines for learning. Neither do computers used for learning necessarily require expensive software. It is perfectly possible to set up a computer using free, or almost free, open source operating systems and basic office software.

8.3 Key issues

• Do you have sufficient infrastructure in your enterprise to support e-learning?
• What are your options in terms of establishing spaces for learning? How can these best be configured?
• Can you combine e-learning with more traditional forms of learning?
• Is there anyone in your enterprise who has the knowledge and skills to set up the infrastructure you need?