Ever increasing numbers of businesses are talking less flipcharts, more iPads. What does this mean to your organisation, and will quality of learning be affected by going online?

 

Professional development programmes, particularly in the field of strategic leadership and outsourcing, are in global demand due to increasing overseas contracts. But what if the training programme is delivered at a time or location that’s simply no good?

Distance learning, or e-learning, is a method of delivering programmes through Internet based software, email and cloud-based technology. Increasingly sophisticated ‘app’ development means a delegate can submit an assessment with their iPad, on a train, halfway across the world- and needn’t travel hundreds or thousands of miles to attend a classroom workshop. Let’s take a look at the 5 benefits for providers and users.

 

1.    1. Flexibility

 

Traditional, classroom based training involves getting the whole cohort together in the training room on the same date. With distance learning, study can fit around your schedule- allowing you to fit learning in when you can. For senior teams or managers, time and commitment can be the most influential factor in choosing to take a course.

 

2.    2.  Global Participation

Thanks to services like Skype, live meetings and presentations can take place online, whether you’re in the next city or the next continent. E-learning software allows students to complete workbooks and tests, download materials and watch video clips wherever they are in the worldFor participants, increasing accessibility of good quality online training can help to improve the skills base in countries who otherwise could  not participate.

 

3.    3. Cross Platform Learning

There is, of course, opportunity to ‘blend’ delivery styles and offer practical, workshop based tuition with online exams and downloadable resources. Cloud based software has allowed for access all over the connected world, so a blended learning approach can reduce travel time and cost, allowing students to reflect at a time to suit. There is, of course, a risk surrounding retention of learning. There is a significant benefit to practical ‘action’ learning in workshop-based training- so always ensure participants’ knowledge is tested for retention purposes. It’s so easy to click through an online course and ignore the information that needs to be remembered.

 

4. Cost Effectiveness

In a budget-constrained world, businesses may not always have the budget to send their staff to a far-away training course, or pay to have it delivered in-house. Distance learning courses eliminate costly fees for the organiser- including venue hire, catering and travel. Instead, delivering distance learning requires IT support, printing/posting costs and administrative support. Once the software or system is set up, programmes may only need occasional IT input, requiring only administrative programme support. Distance learning can greatly reduce the cost of delivery, whilst improving the flexibility for the learner.

 

5. Benefits for HR

For HR departments, e-learning software can speed up the completion and submission of pre-induction and recruitment tests. These tests can be offered to overseas candidates, allowing for a wider scope of talent in an ever competitive market. E-learning is particularly helpful to large businesses who need to train staff in basic skills that can be done quickly online- for example first aid training and key skills.

 

Is your business moving towards the future? True North offer distance learning, open and in-house programmes to suit you and your business’ needs.