Basic Books, 1997. That damn e is everywhere, and elearning has caught the fever. If you re going to talk about the entire e learning story, however, I propose you move the discussions from electronic transfer to powerful experiences. The Difference Between Experiences and Content Experiences do not equal Content. Experiences are fluid practices and processes that impact performances.
Content is steeped in processes that sequence and chunk events.
The difference is that content, in the form of training, unambiguous information, or defined problem-solving tactics, assumes a predictable environment, relies on explicit knowledge, and is linear. Furthermore, experiences engage the learner. I realized this for the first time when reading Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi s concept of flow . He explains, The autotelic experience, or flow, lifts the course of life to a different level. Alienation gives way to involvement, enjoyment replaces boredom, helplessness turns into a feeling of control, and psychic energy works to reinforce the sense of self, instead of being lost in the service of external goals.