Web Conferencing Software: 7 Top Benefits For eLearning Professionals
While text messages and emails are now the preferred methods of communication, people still rely on face-to-face chats and more personal ways to stay in touch. This can be difficult if your eLearning team is distributed and your audience is all over the map, however. This is where web conferencing software comes into play. With the click of a button you can collaborate, host webinars, and communicate with clients from around the world.
- Reduces training costs.
Gone are the days when you had to pay for on-site instructors. Web conferencing software gives you the opportunity to host webinars, online training events, and business meetings without having to cover travel and accommodation expenses. In addition to the expense of printed training materials, you can also avoid site rental fees, as the online training session can be carried out anywhere as long as there is internet access. This is ideal for a distributed workforce, as every member can stay right where they are and still have access to the online training program. Most web conferencing software vendors have a limited number of participants. As such, you will want to be sure that you choose an option that accommodates your maximum number of online learners.
- Improves team collaboration.
Your online learners can meet-up to discuss important business decisions or even work on projects via the web conferencing platform. Many solutions even offer virtual training classrooms and online scheduling tools, which makes them ideal for online collaboration. In fact, you can even hold impromptu online meetings if online learners need to quickly address a concern or chat with their virtual classmates about a specific task or online assignment. If the web conferencing tool does not have built-in document sharing, you can always pair it with a free project management platform to create an all-in-one solution.
- Provides a flexible support solution.
This benefit is actually two-fold. Not only can you offer your online members personal support, but you can also take advantage of a flexible support system for differentiated online training. For example, struggling corporate learners can schedule a web conferencing appointment with their online training facilitators to ask questions and receive the individualized help they need to succeed. Some web conferencing tools even have integrated screen sharing features that allow support staff to remedy issues remotely. Before signing up for any web conferencing tool, ensure that it offers the support services that you need based on the intended use. For instance, features that are ideal for team collaboration may not be as useful for online learner support.
- Streamlines the client review process.
Before web conferencing software, eLearning professionals had to schedule a meeting with the client, potentially rent a meeting space, and print all of the necessary materials. With web conferencing tools, however, eLearning professionals can meet with their clients in virtual meeting spaces and share their ideas within a fraction of the time. There are no travel and hotel expenses, and you have the ability to work around the client’s schedule. In fact, you can reach out to them all throughout the eLearning design and development process to make sure that you are all on the same page. This can also reduce revisions at the end of the eLearning project, as you can double check with them along the way and gather their eLearning feedback.
- Allows eLearning professionals to host interactive webinars and online training events.
Web conferencing software can give you the power to host interactive and engaging webinars for your audience. Many even have online registration, scheduling, and analytics to monitor the turn out. If you are going to use the web conferencing tool primarily for webinars and online training courses, it’s important to find an online platform that can accommodate live virtual crowds. For example, a web conferencing tool that can only support up to 10 users at once may not be ideal if you plan on inviting 100 participants to your next online training event.
- Improves social learning experiences.
Web conferencing tools are not just for eLearning course development. They can also be used by your online learners to collaborate with their peers and share their personal experiences and insights. As a matter of fact, you can integrate web conferencing into your online course design to offer your audience social learning experiences that are more interactive and engaging. This is ideal for asynchronous online training courses where online learners may feel distanced emotionally from the eLearning experience, as it allows them to interact with others and work on online projects remotely. In many ways, web conferencing tools can help you develop a stronger eLearning community. Online learners can gather virtually and ask questions, address concerns, and broaden their understanding of the subject matter.
- Removes geographical limitations.
Without a doubt, one of the most significant advantages of web conferencing is the removal of geographical limitations. No matter where your eLearning team members are located, they can stay connected to their colleagues and work together to create amazing online deliverables. Likewise, online learners have the ability to reach out to their peers and online course facilitators in order to get the most out of the online course. Even online learners who live in remote regions of the world now have access to an immersive and enlightening eLearning experience.
Web conferencing software offers you the ability to interact with your eLearning and Development team, as well as your online learners. To reap all of these rewards, however, it is important to find the web conferencing tool that is ideally suited to your needs. Read reviews, ask for a demo, and research all of your options to avoid unnecessary trial and error.
Take the time and stress out of finding your next web conferencing tool by reading the article Top 10 Video Conferencing Systems For eLearning Professionals, which features the top video conferencing tools that every eLearning professional should know about.
