What It's Like To Take Online Courses: Does eLearning Suit Your Needs?
Of course, one of the most significant factors in bringing about this change has been the advances in technology; predominantly, although not exclusively, the internet. The use of computers, interactive whiteboards, and even tablets in schools allows teachers and students access to material and delivery techniques which were unimaginable in the age of chalkboards and textbooks. Aside from the advantages of this in the formative years of education, the option of learning online means that adults are able to undergo continuous learning as part of or alongside their working lives. This is a huge advantage since it allows individuals to ‘keep up’ with the rapidly changing nature of many industries. Here are a few aspects to consider when deciding whether or not eLearning is suitable for you or your employees.
1. Self-Paced
One of the biggest advantages of taking online courses is that they are largely self-paced; rather than being obliged to complete so many hours in a day or a week, you can make your way through a course at a pace that fits your schedule and lifestyle. If you are keen to complete a course quickly and have sufficient time to commit to doing so, then you are free to go full steam ahead, but if life is already extremely busy, it is very common to take online courses in bite-sized chunks and make your way through at a more manageable pace. Online courses are usually delivered in an easily digestible format so that you can absorb information little by little, and emerge the other end with a set of skills or bank of knowledge you may previously have thought would have been impossible to acquire.
2. Flexible
In a similar vein, eLearning is usually extremely flexible, not only because you can do as much or as little as you have time for within any given period, but also because you can take the courses whenever and wherever suits you best. Since online courses are available on laptop computers, tablets and sometimes even smartphones, you can conveniently create yourself some study time in what might otherwise be ‘wasted’ time, such as sitting on the train during your commute or waiting impatiently for dinner to cook. For adults with full-time jobs, busy social schedules and often children to think about, the flexible nature of online courses gets a big tick.
3. Engaging
Perhaps, related to the fact that learners can take these courses as and when they like, eLearning often brings about higher levels of learner engagement than traditional teaching methods. This is a natural consequence of learners being able to dedicate time to their training when they are in the right frame of mind to do so, but it is also thanks to the engaging nature of the courses themselves. eLearning courses are often remarkably interactive, with a variety of different exercises and learning techniques incorporated, which are generally notably more preferred than simply reading and listening to large amounts of information.
4. Up-to-Date
Many organizations choose to have their employees take eLearning courses in order to keep them up to date with industry knowledge, specific skill sets or technological developments. Since many of these things continue to develop at an alarming rate, online courses have the significant advantage of being easily and regularly updated to keep up to speed with the ‘real world’. Online learning can be especially useful for experts who have been working in their industry for many years but may need help to develop their IT skills to remain at the cutting edge of their specific field.
5. Cost-Effective
Towards the top of the specification for most employers, training and re-training staff must be cost-effective. Thankfully, online courses also adhere to this requirement, generally being significantly cheaper than in-house courses, whilst still delivering the high level of content you are willing to pay for. Of course, additionally, eLearning saves costs on travel and is generally more efficient in terms of the time required; attending a course in person may necessitate that your employee misses half a day of work each week, whereas training online could reduce this to the one hour actually needed to spend taking the course, which can be done whenever things are least hectic in the office.
On the whole, it is probably fair to say that most employees feel unexcited and inconvenienced by the idea of having to attend training events. eLearning courses avoid this unmotivated approach by offering engaging content which will leave learners feeling better equipped to work at the forefront of their industry and will fit conveniently into pre-established schedules. Such courses are proving ever more popular amongst individuals as well as organizations looking to provide further training for their staff, which is no surprise given both their attractive nature and cost-effectiveness.
