Three reasons to consider e-learning for your next training project

According to the Canadian Society for Training and Development, approximately 80% of professional development in Canada now includes e-learning. It’s obvious that an increasing number of organizations are seeing the value of investment in e-learning as an alternative to traditional classroom training. We think there are three main reasons everyone should consider e-learning as an option when developing a training program:

1. Economic Value

• Travel costs for trainers and learners are significantly reduced, if not eliminated.
• Session costs – room rental, catering and the like – are eliminated.
• Learner’s training time is maximized.
• Tracking functions can ensure manager’s time is used efficiently.

2. Flexibility in Delivery

• No classroom setup required; learners can take training from any computer that meets minimum system requirements.
• Many learners can participate in training at once, at times convenient to them or to their team, and work at their own pace.
• Courses can be updated quickly to accommodate changes to content or make improvements.
• Multiple courses from one organization or division, or on a particular topic, can easily be organized and permissions can limit access to them.
• Learning paths can be customized for particular user groups.

3. Consistency of Outcomes

• All learners learn the same material in the same manner.
• There are potentially higher rates of completion and retention.
• Learning content can be the “best of the best”: all subject matter experts can collaborate more effectively to ensure all topics and perspectives are covered.

Of course there is also a time and place for face-to-face training, but e-learning can be a useful option that allows you to maximize the time spent in the classroom for those topics that really benefit from hands-on experience.