e-LEARNING: ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVES

It’s easy for us to find the faults in new technology. We read about them whenever a new technology product is introduced. Funny how that works! I guess it’s because it is much easier for us to see the negative than it is for us to embrace the positive.

Time for a gut check when we talk about e-Learning!

Do we all realize that e-Learning is singularly poised to positively impact all aspects of one’s business?!? It is uniquely capable of making significant contributions to employees, management, shareholders and customers. For the very first time, organizations have a learning tool that can improve attitudes, skill levels, communications and the bottom line.

How does e-Learning manage to do all this? Well, if the courseware has been instructionally designed to train (rather than to merely inform) and if the courseware reaches across the various individual learning styles and cultures (video- or game-based), no other communication tool can begin to touch its benefits.

•Employees can attain competency levels in less time, which leads to greater productivity. The use of full motion video, optional full audio, simulations and gaming all address the needs of everyone — be they fluent readers or learners who rely more on media-rich experiences.

• E-Learning is available 24×7 (from anytime, from anywhere, and from any place with a high speed internet connection.

• Uniform content can be delivered consistently and, most importantly with a well-designed program, the benefits of just-in-time learning are always available. This aspect of e-Learning is especially valuable because it can double as a help desk or quick reference long after the initial formal training has taken place.

• Combined with an on-line skills assessment tool, e-Learning makes significant savings in employee time-in-classroom as well as associated travel costs.

It’s the positives associated with e-Learning that invite our focus. They far outweigh the negatives. And, they will help address our many education and training challenges.

Stay tuned for future developments, too. They are on the way!