When most of us think of eLearning, or online learning, we think online degrees and à la carte course offerings from higher education institutions. But eLearning is not just for the stay-at-home student anymore. More and more businesses are now integrating eLearning tools into their employee training. Why the switch? How does eLearning stack up against classroom learning in the workplace? Below we compare the two modes across four different variables:
1. Standardization
With eLearning, companies that have branches in multiple countries can ensure that all employees—domestic and international—receive exactly the same training. Utilizing a cloud platform, you can update and instantly make training material available so that the most up-to-date resources are always just a click away. This reduces instances of passing on conflicting, incomplete, or outdated information, and with eLearning, you can localize and distribute online resources, such as video tutorials, PowerPoints, or comprehension tests more easily.
2. Accessibility
One major difference between eLearning and classroom learning is accessibility. eLearning allows you to learn anywhere, and which can have huge implications for businesses. For example, consultants or salespeople can use mobile devices to brush up on product information and on ways to meet potential clients. Because training materials and other resources are readily accessible, employees can access them at any time hassle-free. This increases their exposure to the material and allows for increased retention of information. Furthermore, eLearning means that you get to choose your learning environment. Those who absorb material better in isolation or at certain times of day can do so uninhibited.
3. Cost
eLearning helps companies cut costs in a few different areas. For instance, comprehensive online learning platforms can obviate the need for—or at the very least, minimize the role of—training staff. This means that employees with extra training duties can focus completely on their primary responsibilities. Time (and therefore money) spent shuffling employees to and from meeting rooms can also be decreased. Customized eLearning platforms render expensive and cumbersome textbooks and other physical resources obsolete. Additionally, because material is available online, paper consumption is reduced.
4. Interactability
If you’re worried that adopting an online learning platform may jeopardize the social atmosphere of your office, fear not. With the right eLearning tools, such as forums and chat systems, you can preserve the free exchange of information between trainers and new employees. You can also use these platforms for the discussion of day-to-day issues that are bound to crop up—even across continents. As a bonus, eLearning can allow higher-ups to track the progress of employees, evaluate them, and provide them with valuable feedback accordingly.
For companies moving their training onto an eLearning platform, it’s important to localize content for their different office locations. This will ensure that employees will have a strong, cross-cultural understanding of company values, services, and processes.
For more information on how to localize your business’s eLearning platform, learn more about CSOFT International’s services here!
Written by Mike Lenczewski – Senior Technical Writer at CSOFT International