The Benefits of E-Learning

The rise of e-learning is a natural result of the technological advances that have defined – and will continue to define – our era. But e-learning isn’t just inevitable, it’s also desirable; offering many advantages over and above those presented by traditional class-led training.

Whether you’re an individual motivated by professional development, or a manager with a passion for staff training, e-learning could benefit you. Here’s how…

Unlimited accessibility: Perhaps online learning’s greatest asset is its accessibility, which can be defined as: anywhere, anytime. Which means you, or your employees, can study at a time and place that best suits, working around both personal and work commitments. This has become especially important since the pandemic where many employers and employees have realised that home working is potentially the new reality.

In today’s global economy, employees are often scattered across continents and time-zones too. e-learning combats this issue by allowing staff to train using the same software and material, regardless of their location. Which leads us on to the next point…

Consistency: Consistency is essential to the success of organisational staff training, and e-learning provides just this by eliminating any worries associated with the inconsistency of face-to-face instructors, who might deliver or emphasise slightly different material to one another. This is especially important if your training material centres around health and safety, or very specific rules and regulations.

Efficient learning: Because e-learning allows people to study at a time, place and pace that suits them, the learning process can be significantly streamlined. According to Jennifer Salopek from the American Society for Training and Development, learning time can be reduced by up to 50%. This is partly because individuals can skip material they already know, but also because they’re more engaged and driven due to e-learning’s interactive nature. Not only is this great for busy individuals who are focusing on professional development in their spare time, it’s also a boon for businesses…

Professional Services firm Ernst and Young cut learning hours by a whopping 52% after replacing classroom learning with e-learning, slashing costs by 35% in the process.

Cost effectiveness: Costs associated with traditional training include tutor charges, tutor and staff commuting, classroom rentals and material production. Because e-learning solutions don’t have to factor in these overheads, their fees are lower. And it’s not only Ernst and Young who are proof of this; the Dow Chemical Company also reduced average spending per learner from $95 to $11, saving $34 million annually.

Environmentally friendly: Because e-learning courses require far fewer – or no – physical materials, it’s much greener than traditional learning. A study conducted by the Open University found that online courses used 90% less energy and 85% fewer CO₂ emissions than their campus-based counterparts.

Custom made courses: Many e-learning course providers, like us here at Trainer Bubble, can custom design courses that are specific to your organisation, and create tools that cater to individual staff competencies. And once designed, these courses can be easily updated and managed; even allowing employers and staff to monitor their progress.

So, if you’re um-ing and ah-ing over whether to opt for traditional tutor-led training or e-learning courses, we urge you not to overlook the benefits that e-learning can provide, or even to consider a blended approach that includes both an online and offline approach. E-learning offers so many benefits; it’s cost and time efficient, accessible worldwide 24/7, flexible and environmentally friendly… and it’s part of the future of professional and staff development.

Please don’t hesitate, contact us today to find-out more about how we can help you.