The New Face of Training

[feat-img-left] Technological advancements have made it very easy to shift learning and development to online platforms. Companies and institutions of learning have taken eLearning to an entirely different plateau. Online instructors now have the flexibility to conduct orientation via eLearning modules and online facilitation. This helps companies save money by cutting travel and per diem costs that would have been a necessity if the instructor had to come on campus. There are promising statistics on eLearning, how it is evolving and projections for the future. Being able to coordinate the facilitation of mobile learning and platform-driven learning spaces is quickly becoming the norm. Advantages include:

• Individuals can learn at their own pace.
• Individuals can access the platform at any time.
• An online learning platform provides flexibility for the instructor and the students.
• An online learning platform is cost-effective.

Classroom learning platforms are also a great way to hold classroom sessions while integrating comments, questions and activities on an eLearning side. All students can see who is in the class and, when a student is speaking or presenting, everyone can see them in real-time. This is a good alternative for a classroom experience where live demonstrations are needed. Handouts can be uploaded into the system for each student to follow the session.

How do these platforms save money?

After the initial cost of integrating the platform into the system, there is an immediate return on investment. If the platform is being used by a company, having employees from every location being able to participate in workshops and meetings online save significant costs. No matter where the employees are, new hire orientation, diversity training and other workshops can be conducted while they are on location without the need to travel. New employees have the opportunity to receive training in a variety of ways, and employees that have been with the company can participate in online module sessions to become familiar with new policies and procedures, or to satisfy professional development requirements. By having employees log into the system, corporations are also able to track which employees take their professional development seriously and make changes or additions to modules and training seminars based on feedback. Conferences that were typically held outside of the workplace can now be moderated through an online platform, decreasing the costs of sending employees out. The only costs involved would be duplicating the training materials and solidifying the speaker to deliver the content via the online platform, giving employees who typically do not have a chance to participate in these types of trainings a fair advantage for advancement. For companies that have multiple locations or overseas operations, being able to have trainings on one system through an eLearning platform engages employees and demonstrates the company’s commitment to having a well-trained staff.

Are there drawbacks?

With every new technology there are a few drawbacks, but the pros outweigh the cons in this instance. A few drawbacks to think about:

• There is substantial cost investment when first implemented.
• Everyone needs to have the technology necessary to participate.
• There are costs associated with updates, materials, etc.
• There may be a learning curve depending on knowledge and ability to learn quickly.
• It may be difficult to learn a variety of different platforms.

Once these issues are identified and rectified, eLearning proves to be a viable option that works for many. With so many platforms on the market, integration becomes necessary across the board that will use the same commands and functions. This will provide for ease-of-use in the general market and the learning and development environment. These platforms are the wave of the future and they will continue to be developed to provide more enhanced user experiences.