E-Learning In Relation To Work

Online Learning

E-Learning In Relation To Work

Technology has changed everything in the workplace, including the way employees are trained. It seems it was only yesterday that forward-thinking companies were setting up computers in their training rooms to give employees hands-on experience before sending them out to the front lines. Companies would think nothing of bringing employees from all over the country to centralized training centers.

Flash forward a few years and we now deliver training right to employees' workstations and/or homes. At first glance, the idea of delivering training to an employees seems flawless. But e-learning may not be right for every employee, every company and every situation. Before a company rushes to install an e-learning platform and sign up whole departments for training, they must consider the pros and cons of this training modality in their work environment.

Learning is Available 24/7

Pros

* gives employees the opportunity to fit training into their schedules, which can be a big plus for self-motivated, disciplined people.

For a thousand years, people have learned the same way. Classes have been scheduled at specific times, with an active instructor standing in front of a passive class. Everyone was expected to absorb material in the same way and at the same pace. E-learning allows people to learn when they want, and at their own pace. They make decisions about how a class should be structured and when they should do the coursework.

Cons

Less motivated employees will have difficulty dealing with the lack of structure in a self-paced e-learning program. A way to deal with that issue would be to scheduling time off for employees so they can complete the assigned module. They may also consider setting up an area that's quiet and conducive to learning, so workers can focus on their coursework.

E-learning Allows Measurable Results

Pros

Many e-learning companies and platforms now offer work performance tools as part of courses, allowing you to gauge individual and organizational performance before and after the course. Thus, you have a quantitative measure to determine the effectiveness of course material.
There is more and more work performance tools being put into courses. It's proving such a benefit to organizations to be able to accurately determine just how much employees have learned and how performance has been impacted across the board.

Cons

Some employees will be reluctant to expose themselves to performance evaluations, fearing negative repercussions if they fail to show improvement. But, an employer can assure them that they are only evaluating the efficacy of the e-learning product, not the employees on-the-job performance.

E-Learning Allows for Planned Training On Demand

Pros

No more waiting for the company to fly in an instructor or coordinating schedules so the whole team can be away from the office. That means employers keep their staff up to date, responding to new trends almost as quickly as they hit the industry.

Cons

Individual, on-demand training can eliminate interaction between fellow co-workers. The loss of this interaction, which always enriches coursework, can be a problem. Seek courses that include either synchronous or asynchronous interaction between fellow coworkers and instructors or build in that interaction by integrating e-learning with some instructor-led sessions.

E-Learning Is Cost Effective

Pros

Of course, the biggest--and probably most obvious--savings in choosing e-learning over classroom-based training is the elimination of travel costs. But there are other, less obvious savings.
Statistics show that e-learning cuts a traditional, instructor-led course in half. All those pleasantries in the classroom setting are eliminated. That means saving both in the cost of the course and employees time away from work.

Cons

The cost to install an e-learning platform across a companies network could prove significant. Before employers make an investment, they must be sure a particular platform or approach is right for them. Off-the-shelf products and Web-based services like "click-2-learn" are cost-effective alternatives.

It's Not An All or Nothing Proposition!!

Adults learn in very different, individual ways. The great thing about e-learning is that it allows people to learn in any way they choose, focusing on their own strengths and weaknesses.
Of course, there are some courses that may not be perfectly suited to an e-learning approach. Think twice, for instance, about using e-learning to train one of your mechanics to do a tune-up. (Note of interest: Some e-learning companies--one of these is tech-online -- now offer 3-D, virtual training courses that are the next thing to a hands-on experience. A course might, for example, allow a student to virtually disassemble and reassemble a circuit board. Experts say these programs will prove particularly helpful in familiarizing technical personnel with specific products.)
Using e-learning in combination with facilitated training still seems to be the optimum for many companies. It's up to them to determine the right recipe (Is it three parts e-learning to one part classroom training?) for their organization.

Please Click Here For Questions That Can Be Asked By Companies Can Ask Themselves To See If They Are Ready To Introduce Online Learning To Their Employees

By: Allison Doucet
For: Ms.Kennedy
In: IDC 4U 2005