While there are many articles and advice pieces available on the subject of the positives and negatives of e-learning, there is limited information about developing its full potential. Those which can be read are more often related to the education sector as opposed to businesses, which is remarkable considering recent CPID research findings:
“Three-quarters (74 percent) of organizations currently use e-learning, but only 15 percent report that it is one of the most effective learning practices available to them … The vast majority of respondents (91 percent) stated that they believe e-learning is more effective when it is combined with other types of learning.”
The main role of training is to develop your staff and therefore your business, so what are the ways in which a business owner can utilize the full potential of their e-learning courses?
1. Integration
Making sure your e-learning course becomes integrated into your business is the most effective way to develop it fully. One of the easier ways to do this is through a mentoring scheme which helps cement any e-learning through practical repetition. A study by S.M. Martin and S.K. Sifers showed that mentoring schemes were mutually beneficial for the mentor and the mentee.
Businesses can learn from the way that e-learning has grown in the education sector, where much critical analysis has been directed at the enhancement of the communication between student and teacher. Dedicating time for staff to relay their training experiences is the lesson to be learnt. This creates a positive network for development and allows you to better analyze how beneficial the training was. Simply replace the student with an employee, and the teacher with a senior team member (or mentor), and we can achieve a more effective form of e-learning.
Both of these are great examples of active learning, and will go a long way in reinforcing every facet of your training procedure. This is the most important (and natural) way of maximizing the benefits of an e-learning course, and should be planned in advance of all training exercises.
2. Commitment
Creating a culture that supports a positive form of training and development requires “commitment and leading by example at a senior level.” Getting the most from your work based e-learning course requires employers to be engaging and dedicated to supporting their staff. It’s about personalizing your training to each member of your staff and leading by example to show the benefits.
A 2005 Becta report concluded that the most successful work-based e-learning programs provided tutor support. As a business owner or manager, it is essential that you demonstrate your commitment to your staff and in turn, create a more cost efficient e-learning strategy.
3. Pitfalls
A common misconception is that e-learning is a less effective form of learning compared to traditional training methods. This is categorically untrue. According to the book, “E-Learning and the Science of Instruction,” it’s not the delivery medium, rather the instructional methods that cause learning.
According to the book, a major pitfall of e-learning is losing sight of the specifics. A good way to ensure that your e-learning program does not fall in the trap, is to customize it. Many reputable e-learning providers will allow you to develop a training program specific to your needs.
Make sure you get the most out of e-learning, and see your business grow.
