Ever since the emergence of eLearning, there has always been a debate on the role of competent trainers in the learning and development arena. Many organizations primarily relied on these trainers and they struggled to retain them. Learners had to adapt every trainer and their training style.
Due to the modern learning needs and technologies, the training is no more confined to the classroom. As a result, the role of a trainer and/or instructor-led training (ILT) went down the hill especially in the corporate world. These hindrances led to the need for eLearning – a cost effective alternative in delivering effective training while reducing trainer dependency. In this blog, we will look at the top four benefits of eLearning in the healthcare industry as example.
More Flexibility: Elearning provides a scope for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and helps the medical professionals to stay on top of their field. When it comes to accessibility, eLearning or mobile learning courses provide anytime and anywhere learning which is not possible via traditional classroom training. For example, a sales rep who is on field can easily access the self-paced training content via iPad.
More Consistency: With eLearning in place, you can deliver quality and consistent training while keeping track of course completion for compliance. The SCORM-compliant eLearning courses can be tracked via LMS. This means you can keep track and report the learning activities of your workforce.
Managing Updates: Staying up to date with latest developments becomes quite essential in the healthcare profession. Because what’s considered as benchmark today can completely be outdated as the technologies emerge. The medication, techniques, processes are subject to change in short period of time. This brings the need for continuous and updated training in healthcare industry. And online training can be the most consistent and effective way to impart the training.
Cost-Effective Alternative: Elearning in healthcare can be the cost-effective alternative when compared to traditional training. It drastically cuts down face to face training expenditures.
To conclude, e-Learning offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional forms of training. It is one of the most consistent approach to maintain safe, competent and legally compliant workforce. On top of it, the interactive eLearning can keep the learners engaged throughout the course.
Reference Link: http://www.swiftelearningservices.com/top-4-benefits-of-elearning-over-instructor-led-training/
This is a discussion at our company often. Time, resources, content updates providing content through instructor lead versus eLearning. I believe it is a delicate balance and blended learning can bring out the best of the learner.
It allows flexibility for the learner to complete the course – retake the course, etc. Additionally, the human contact is there for a check-in basis. What questions are there? What can the learner continue to benefit from knowing?
I have a long career as teacher and trainer and tend to disagree partially with your viewpoints. Nothing can completely replace an inspiring trainer for several reasons. Just FYI I did use flipped classes before the word was invented, used eLearning assets in class training and online training to be used by the trainees both before and after contact with the trainer. Blended learning set up that way proved to be the most efficient. The biggest problem with pure eLearning, although indeed much cheaper is the lack of human contact. If learning is exclusively based on eLearning assets you need to find ways to embed that human contact not only with a trainer but also with peers. That will need investment of man hours as well, certainly if you don’t have any possibility of life contact, which may be short and even online (synchronized). My belief is that an engaging tutor is worth a lot more than the best eLearning course.
Agree with you fully – 25 years of classroom instruction has taught me that even the best elearning courses need to be supplemented with human input and contact. Peer learning in a classroom can be instrumental in moving individuals and teams forward in the learning process. An inspirational and experienced instructor can provide a human context that can not be achieved in even the best elearning.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
