What is Media?

What is media?  How does it apply to elearning?

Media is the plural for medium.  Medium is typically seen as a means of communication, and in today's society is defined as: television, radio, newspapers, video and the internet, as well as movies.  Media is a means of getting a message or news out to others.

I feel that media is essential to elearning, as one who is involved in elearning will be using various forms of media to learn, gain knowledge and become informed, as well as the physical use of media to access the tools for learning.

Take a student who is in an online school.  That student will be using the internet to access the course information and lessons, and then using various forms of media (to include textbooks) to complete assignments.  Once again, the student will be using the internet to submit assignments.  In addition, the instructor of an online course will be using media (primarily the internet) to instruct the students.

You cannot have elearning without media, it is an integral part of elearning.