The popularity of eLearning is rising at a rapid rate, and it’s not difficult to see why.
With the competition becoming fiercer, the quality of the courses keeps skyrocketing, allowing for better targeting and delivery.
High-quality eLearning courses are more practical than traditional learning techniques as they enable everyone to develop a learning style that suits them best. Obviously, online courses are available 24/7, which, in itself, is a huge benefit.
In the organizational context, eLearning can help raise employee productivity and, ultimately, helps businesses cut costs.
For starters, let’s explain in a bit more detail what eLearning is.
Simply put, eLearning is a variety of electronic educational procedures and applications, which can benefit from multiple approaches and methods. Some notable examples include:
- Web-based learning
- Computer-based learning
- Virtual classrooms and digital collaboration
The content is delivered through online forums, audio and video recordings, satellite broadcasts, interactive TV, and communication technologies
How to Implement eLearning
To ensure the improvement of business processes and provide new prospects for the workforce, businesses would do well to provide eLearning options. However, keep in mind that not every course is acceptable.
You should do the following to make sure your offer meets both the needs of your company and the desires of your employees:
- Determine the topic that an eLearning program will cover
- Search for companies that provide these programs. Many universities and organizations provide courses on a variety of subjects
- Look into the scope of the assistance provided
For starters, there are two basic types of eLearning courses: real-time and recorded.
Real-Time Courses
For those who prefer to learn in a classroom setting, real-time online courses may be a better choice. This means that all participants need to coordinate their calendars; live eLearning courses require everyone to be present at the designated time.
Due to this requirement, real-time online courses may not be the greatest of choices for people with busy schedules. On the other hand, for those with more spare time, real-time online learning is a fun occasion. Namely, not only will they get to learn new things, but they’ll also be able to interact with like-minded individuals they might not otherwise have the chance to meet.
Live learning events are usually a better option for people who like to learn in a group.
Recorded Courses
As for people with busy schedules, recorded courses may be a better option. There are many courses that may be accessed at any time, from any location. A notable example is Coursera, a platform that provides pre-recorded courses with live instructor help.
It is obvious why recorded courses are so popular. The courses can be paused whenever and resumed at a later time. As such, they target a far larger group than real-time courses.
Why Is eLearning the Best Option for Businesses?
There are several reasons why organizations rely on eLearning. We’ll mention some of the most notable ones.
Around-the-Clock Access
Both international and local teams can benefit from eLearning because it grants access whenever they choose.
That is to say, the learning outcome is unaffected by students’ location. Regardless of their respective time zone, learners will be able to move forward steadily at their own pace.
Not All Failures Are Equal
Another huge benefit of eLearning is that students can take their time.
Occasionally, people require extra time to understand complicated subjects. eLearning, unlike traditional learning, enables failure without alerting the entire class.
That gives students a significant psychological boost and enables them to persevere, put up their best effort, and try again without worrying about the repercussions.
eLearning Boosts Collaboration
Thanks to forums and social media, people have discovered that interpersonal connections can occur outside of traditional face-to-face models. This is great news for both introverts and extroverts, who can use eLearning to gain confidence on top of acquiring new skills.
The days of quiet classrooms full of silent students are long gone. Nowadays, everyone can participate in eLearning in their own fashion.
Everyone Loves Gamification
You can enhance the learning process by including gameplay components. This method (known as “gamification”) is being used by many factions (military, astronauts, etc.).
Our brains respond favorably to rewards, which gamification offers aplenty. Here are a few concepts you can implement in our eLearning courses: quizzes, points, and progress tools. There are many more alternatives available, so look into gamification mechanics for the best results.
Instructional Design for Elearning
Instructional design for eLearning is a strategic approach to training, which enables the development of comprehensive learning opportunities based on the best content and delivery.
An adult learning theory serves as a foundation around which a traditional instructional designer drafts courses and modules. Specifically, this is done by breaking down the subject, getting into the specifics, picking it apart, and pinpointing the essential knowledge that a learner must obtain. Thereafter, they integrate the content into a course to be delivered via these learning models. The finest instructional designers adopt a strategic approach rooted in discovery (as opposed to forcing all training into the same material type).
The benefits of instructional design for eLearning are numerous and worth looking into. If you don’t have prior experience in this field, it is advised you should inform yourself about the pros and cons for your organization.
eLearning Management Systems
Finally, eLearning, in itself, won’t serve its purpose if businesses aren’t tracking progress.
Certain standards need to be set up to ensure learning is taking place. Make sure to track progress in real-time and compare different outcomes over time.
The approach will enable you to learn how students react to different material types, which will help you organize future courses even better.
To speed up learning, you may also develop microlearning modules (knowledge served in smaller doses).
eLearning: An Afterthought
eLearning a wealth of opportunities for businesses and employees alike. eLearning solutions are many and customizable, so take your time comparing offers before deciding on a single course.
The key takeaway is that learning doesn’t have to be expensive. Even the most advanced techniques are slowly becoming mainstream (just consider AR glasses, e.g.).
Fundamentally, eLearning is widely accessible and inexpensive (sometimes, it’s also free), so there’s no reason why businesses shouldn’t use it.
