E-LEARNING COURSES AND THE POTENTIAL OF VIRAL MARKETING

The paper is focused on customer oriented courses. As e-learning we consider use of information and computer technologies to create learning experiences (Horton, 2006). This complex definition covers a lot of forms and types of e-learning. Customer oriented courses are one of the emerging trends in the field of e-learning (see survey ASTD, 2011). The e-learning opens new opportunities for non-formal learning and creates support for informal learning. There is a possibility of using viral marketing to motivate students/customers in both ways: to increase of their external and internal motivation. The appropriate motivation is of course the key point of a well prepared and well designed course. In this paper we briefly present some examples and open the discussion how to use principles of viral marketing to motivate students and to support customer oriented e-learning courses. In this context we must also consider the use of tools for social learning (wikis, blogs, social networking sites etc.).