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Boarding the e-learning express
As THE nineties drew to a close, the decline of the dot-com era forced corporations to look at their expenses. Companies that grew steadily, were struggling to survive all of a sudden. In fact, most of them had to find new ways of improving sales and productivity. One of the biggest challenges was to keep employees trained, without spending too much on training procedures.
It was at this point when many companies realized that e-learning was a powerful resource in this regard, which posed fewer problems and quite a few advantages. Productivity measures the output of an individual against the input costs for supporting that individual. The economic advantages of productivity are more than mere dollars and cents. It determines the growth and survival of an entire system. Attempts to increase productivity taught companies to innovate and e-learning became a way of increasing profits.
It is a commonly held belief that nothing can replace classroom teaching. Video tapes, laser discs and CD-ROMs had their advantages, but could not produce the desired results. Video tapes were good bargain, but were ineffective when used for purposes of training. Laser discs turned out to be too expensive. CD-ROMs’ incompatibility with other hardware and installation issues resulted in its lack of use as a medium of instruction.
While the list seems to be endless, one of the common issues with the above-mentioned alternatives was the utility track and so learners and trainers had no choice but to head back to classrooms. However, with the advancement of the internet, e-learning became a viable and productive alternative to classrooms. E-learning not only allows a cost efficient way of training employees, but it also serves as a more direct way of communicating with them. This helps to quell rumours, boost morale and set the direction. Thousands of employees all over the world can log in from their computer and receive the same message in real-time.
Productivity is defined as the rate at which goods or services are produced. A well-trained employee returns the time and money invested in his/her training through improved performance. This can generate significant value for an organization.
Studies show that as more and more learners used e-learning portals, satisfaction levels continued to increase. These studies also reveal that around two-six per cent annual productivity gains are entirely attainable through e-learning. Benefits include reduced cost and time, success with customers and revenue generation. It has been demonstrated that e-learning works best when a combination of e-communication, e-training and e-assessment tools are used in a networked environment. Individual growth and development exceeds the advantages of having only one or two of these tools in place. In other words, there is synergistic value in enabling these specific learning components to operate in tandem. Ignoring the synergy of an integrated approach leads to marginal success with internet-based learning efforts.
E-learning is not only an effective means for transfer of knowledge and information, but it also offers something which no other educational tool has ever done — accountability. Before e-learning, it was impossible to see if users had actually learnt and understood the concept in question. Now, one can test individuals on each module and analyze the data to improve contents. It is not just limited to Fortune 500 companies, but is equally beneficial to small businesses. Consider a company of 30-40 employees who are installing a new application. Thanks to e-learning, they no longer have to fly their staff out for training. Not only can the training sessions be accessed online, but they also have the benefit of going back and forth, spending time learning important modules, or those that are difficult to understand in short training sessions.
However, this is not to say that e-learning should replace classrooms. For some topics and perhaps even for small groups, traditional methods might be better suited. Initial data shows that e-learning is equal to, or more effective than, traditional classrooms. The best time to teach is when the learner is most receptive to learning. E-learning’s availability and flexibility catches hold of that “moment,” when the learner is at his/her most receptive self. Therefore, it has greater impact. Another advantage is maintenance. When it comes to making changes or updates to existing products, all other mediums take weeks or months to edit, republish and distribute. The cost in terms of time and reproduction is extremely high, but with e-learning, maintenance is easier, faster and cheaper than other mediums.
While instructors and classrooms are a wonderful way to teach, e-learning fills the gap where the latter fail to communicate properly. Just like CDs, TV, VCR and DVD players did not put radio stations and cinema houses out of business, e-learning will help companies improve their productivity.
With a systematic approach in employing e-tools, a lot of time can be saved. Companies can also cut down on unnecessary expenses associated with traditional methods. Imagine if employees could file their time card online. The system will process them and forward the information to the finance department, for purposes of salary calculation. The employee will receive online confirmation and the salary will be directly deposited in the bank account. This will save time and eliminate the need to store and manage paper trails. Online registration and reservations, feedback and survey forms, broadcast of sports and concerts all over the world and are all example of e-communication.
The benefits are endless, if people are trained, using an integrated productivity approach. In fact, the advantages are more than just economic benefits. It would contribute to the survival of entire societies. Knowledge is power and unleashing that power through e-learning will undoubtedly bring success for those who adopt it.
The writer
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