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Can Your Company Benefit From E-Learning?

March 3, 2008 | Hits for this post:209 |

During the past decade, the use of computer-based training (CBT) has exploded in all areas of business. What was once thought as only for the “biggest of the big” is now not only available but also affordable for many smaller companies.

E learning can help your company in the following areas:

• Employees learn while attending a virtual classroom delivered right to their computers.
• Some employees may learn better from online learning than in a traditional classroom.
• Everyone learns at their own pace. E-learning does not need start/stop times for class.
• Courses can be taken when it is more convenient for the participant.
• Related cost for training can be dramatically reduced. There is no need for travel, time away from the field or office; there is no lost production due to travel time.

Sound good? Now for the fine print! E-learning is NOT a magic bullet. In fact, e-learning is not even close to a magic bullet. On its own, it will never automatically solve all your problems and improve your business. However, used correctly e-learning can have a dramatic positive effect on improved job performance.

The following are factors to consider when determining if online training is for you:

• What skill deficiency are you addressing?
• How many students are affected?
• How fast do you need results?
• How much time can be allocated for participates to attend a course?
• Will the leaning require interactivity?
• What will be the shelf life of the training?
• What type of tracking you require?

Effective e-learning requires careful planning, maintaining the Learning Management System (LMS) and good judgment about online course design and development. For the most effective e-learning experience, your online training must be carefully designed so the learner will *want* to login and take the course. The leaner must feel the course was worth their time.

Depending on the requirements, you will likely need someone with enhanced design skills. A frequent thought is that all one needs to do is to “put the PowerPoint” online. This major mistake will likely be ineffective and give your entire training department a bad reputation.

This is not to say PowerPoint makes bad online training, far from it. Indeed many, perhaps most, of the online training done today started life as a PowerPoint presentation. However, effective online development requires someone with advanced PowerPoint skills and knowledge of adult learning principles.

While e-learning can be very effective and reduce training expense, it should not be viewed as the only training offered. Many companies made the mistake of putting everything online and promptly failed at training their folks. Today the training intervention requires many blended experiences. In addition to e-leaning there is still a place for instructor led sessions, on the job training, simulation training, and other learning interventions.

Furthermore, do not automatically assume you will be able to reduce your headcount in your training department. Indeed, you may need to increase it! One common result of starting an online learning system is the need for an administrator. This person is not necessarily a designer but one that manages the entire system. This includes managing all participants’ records such as transfers, promotions, hiring, firing, etc.

If you choose not to add an administrator, I strongly suggest you integrate the LMS system into your Payroll/HR system. This will eliminate hours of manual data entry and maintenance within your LMS.

One last piece of advice, do not simply rush into online learning because everyone is doing it. Take time to ask careful questions of vendors, talk to folks who are already using LMS in their company. Seek out those companies that are similar to size as yours and call the Training Manager/Director. Usually these folks are glad to help, including giving you the good, the bad, and the ugly of LMS.

This newsletter may be shared with others in its entirety. However credit must be given to John Robertson and the following text must be included.

John Robertson is currently the Training Manager for a major wireless carrier and has over 30 years training and training management experience. While not at the office his interests include woodworking, metalworking, hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. He is also a part time videographer and produces How To DIY Videos. Check his website http://www.TinkerJohn.com for more ideas and plans.

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