E-learning At Work – The Benefits

E-learning, also known as online training, has been introduced to many modern businesses as a way of offering flexible progression of skills for employees. The corporate training market has been slated to increase by a 15.5% compound annual growth rate due to its rapidly growing popularity as a training method, allowing employees to complete training 40-60% faster than traditional, in-person training courses, and saving millions in the process market-wide.

But how do online learning courses make things easier for employees? In this article, Real Business will outline how, as well as the future of online learning platforms that’ll be utilised for the good of the business.

Benefits Of Electronic Learning At Work

The following is a breakdown of the different ways in which online employee training can benefit the employee, the management and the organisation overall:

• Flexibility – E-learning methods can provide learners with the ability to access training courses at nearly any time, at their own pace. Due to the nature of the lessons and resources being sourced online, all a person needs is an internet connection to access training content. Employees’ progress can be tailored specifically to them, progressing via self-paced learning, unlike a one-to-one training course where set lessons are taught. Research from Infopro Learning shows that 70% of employees prefer this method.
• Cost–effective solution – Companies can save significantly via online learning due to the amount of logistics it cuts out of the picture. Travel expenses, instructor fees, printing and costs associated with resources (computer rental, internet expenses etc) can add up to significant sums. With online learning, these are cut entirely, saving up to 60% in costs according to Techjury. Furthermore, digital platforms do not cost more to accommodate several users.
• Engagement – The incorporation of various multimedia elements can also increase user engagement as opposed to the typical lecturer. Quizzes, simulations, videos etc can keep learners engaged for longer, locking you into systems that track and reward your specific progress. Furthermore, some systems allow for collaborative learning, such as peer-to-peer interaction and support.
• Tracking and monitoring progress – The learning management system can enable companies to track employees’ progress automatically – giving insight into completion rates, assessment results and areas for improvement. Furthermore, many of these systems allow employers to monitor, learn and adjust the training initiatives to align with company goals.
• Customisation and personalisation – The e-learning process can be customised to be bespoke for specific employees. Courses can also be adapted to suit various functions and industries, allowing for personalised learning journeys based on professional development needs. This allows you to essentially “cut the fat”, keeping employee engagement high by giving them specific lessons to cater to their specific goals.

 

What E-Learning Platforms Are Most Commonly Used?

Several online training platforms offer courses for various industries.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of courses in business, technology, creative skills etc. to prospective industry professionals. It uses a unique method of gathering various industry experts in one place for mentorship and idea-sharing purposes. The traits of this platform are as follows:

• Strong social proof – LinkedIn profiles are integrated into LinkedIn learning, along with their certifications, experience, accolades etc. This provides strong social proof, ensuring that courses created have been overseen and co-signed by industry experts.
• Interactive elements – LinkedIn learning boasts several interactive elements, with quizzes being some of the most commonly used. This allows for high learner engagement.
• Corporate packages – Employers of bigger businesses can purchase packages for groups of employees, allowing more employees to be integrated into the process.

 

Over 78% of Fortune 100 companies use LinkedIn Learning to further the skills of their employees.

Coursera

Coursera is an online platform aimed at corporate teams and employees seeking formal education from leading universities and organisations globally.

• Certificates and Degrees – Coursera offers courses, certifications and full degrees from leading universities and companies, such as Yale and Google.
• Hands-on – Assignments are practical, allowing learners to apply concepts to real-world scenarios.
• Corporate package – Training paths for employees can be customised and fit with tracking features for management.

 

Coursera allows for significant advancements through its high-level, peer-certified certification and qualifications.

Udemy Business

Udemy Business is an online training platform that offers learning to a wide range of learners, from corporate professionals trying to optimise their productivity and skills, to new workers looking for essential skills.

• Huge course library – Over 200,000 courses covering everything from personal development to specialised technical skills.
• Corporate dashboard – This feature allows companies to create customised learning paths and assign courses, all whilst tracking employee progress.
• Self-paced learning – Courses are available at any time of the day, allowing employees to learn anytime with lifetime access to purchased materials.

 

Many companies, such as Adidas and Booking.com, use Udemy to scale employee training. The availability of personalised and diverse learning paths allows for high employee engagement, as well as huge cost savings due to Udemy’s policy of providing scalable training without additional costs for multiple users.

Skillsoft Percipio

Skillsoft Percipio is a learning management system that targets corporate employees who want a progression of leadership, IT, compliance and soft skills.

• Ai-powered content curation – This allows artificial intelligence to recommend relevant learning paths based on job role and performance.
• Comprehensive library – Skillsoft Percipio’s library offers a massive range of content, such as technical IT skills, compliance and leadership training.
• Microlearning and certification – Microlearning is a tactic taken by many prospective learners that has been adopted by newer e-learning platforms. It allows for short, targeted lessons that are meant to be accessed daily, offering incremental progress that adds up over time with little effort.

 

This platform is mostly used by large organisations looking to develop internal leadership, as well as stay up to date with all-important industry compliance.

Future Of Online Learning

E-learning continues to grow in popularity, showing future promise via innovation and integration into modern workplaces.

• Mobile learning and microlearning – Mobile learning is, as the name implies, learning whilst being mobile – usually via mobile devices. The demand for learning on the go is increasing, with the mobile e-learning market possibly reaching 80 billion by 2027. Microlearning only enhances this method, as it allows for quick, bite-sized lessons that offer incremental skill increases over a period of time.
• Gamification and interactive learning – The online training market will continue to leverage interactive elements, with gamification being more common. Games allow you to engage through elements like rewards, badges and leaderboards – and they have proven effective in boosting employee motivation and completion rate.
• Artificial intelligence – AI has been taking a pivotal role in a lot of electronic content, with ChatGPT derivatives often popping up on websites to allow for more streamlined and convenient learning. They automatically adjust the difficulty of content, recommend relevant courses, as well as provide bespoke and honest feedback that you can access to your heart’s content.
• Virtual and augmented reality – VR and AR are technologies that were once tied to the realm of gaming, but are fast becoming used in more applications. They can enable employees to experience real-world scenarios within a controlled space, replicating possibly dangerous scenarios in a safe space.
• Social and collaborative learning – Emphasis on collaboration through peer-to-peer learning, forums, and group projects is becoming the norm. These features foster helpful communities that can provide a net-increase to learning and productivity on the platform.
• Increased focus on data – Analysis via a learning management system is very valuable, and is fast progressing. LMS can collect insights on employee progress, engagement, and performance, and businesses will be able to make data-driven decisions to optimise their training strategies.

 

E-learning At Work – What This Means For Modern Business

Modern business has taken a new view on how it treats employees, preferring to treat them as internal customers rather than for granted. Granting training courses and creating paths for advancements within a company is becoming more of the norm, but e-learning is expanding this rapidly. With e-learning, employees can foster mindsets of growth and curiosity by accessing a flexible and continuous method of learning.

• Habitual learning – E-learning allows for a bite-sized and manageable learning experience that can be easily integrated into a daily routine. With the customisability offered to employees cutting out any unnecessary elements and streamlining the process, meaning the small (or large) amount of time dedicated to learning can be done efficiently.
• Democratising knowledge – Traditionally, training courses were reserved for senior-level staff or departments. With the expansion of learning tools in the digital sphere, all employees regardless of their level or role can upskill and access the same quality content.

 

Conclusion

Overall, offering paths to specialise in skills whilst working is a huge boon to any employee. Not only are they compensated for the time they are working, but they are also building their portfolio and expanding their skills. This aids both them, personally, and your business.

FAQ: What are learning partners in the e-learning industry?

Learning partners refer to organisations, companies or individuals that actively collaborate in delivering training to prospective learners. They often work together to deliver e-learning programs that are customised to be both high quality and scalable. The following are some common examples of learning partners:

• Content Providers – These companies/experts develop training content in various domains, such as tech, business or leadership.
• Tech providers – These partners offer the actual platforms and tools that can deliver the e-learning content, such as the aforementioned Coursera.
• Consultant firms – Business partners with e-learning consultants help identify learner needs, customise their training paths and measure the overall effectiveness of the training courses.

 

FAQ: What role do discussion forums play in e-learning?

Discussion forums act as a powerful tool, a place where those who are dedicated to fully understanding and expanding upon their craft gather and discuss.

• Collaboration – Learners interact and share insights, as well as collaborate on problem-solving. Whilst learning platforms are fantastic in providing lessons, questions that individual learners have may not be answered within the modules themselves. Forums, in this case, become a perfect place for people to explore and ask.
• Critical thinking – By having an area for learners to engage one another after the course, learning platforms encourage further critical thinking. This switches the passive mode of learning to a more active and involved one.
• Community building – If the discussion forums act as intended, then learning platforms can create and sustain a community that comes together to actively learn.

 

FAQ: How can e-learning courses be customised?

Customising e-learning courses for different industries is crucial, as feeding information to a prospective learner that is not relevant content could take away from learner engagement.

• Industry-specific content – Some content is mandatory for certain industries. An example of this is the multiple courses created surrounding compliance for industries such as catering and health care.
• Role-based learning paths – Whilst many jobs are in similar departments, individual roles within said departments will require different levels and modes of training. For example, an IT software developer will have courses focused on programming languages or agile development, whereas a securities professional may focus on cybersecurity and risk management.
• Tools training – Some industries rely very heavily on specific tools that have more or less become a standard. Examples of this are Autodesk or Procure, project management tools used often in construction.
• Localisation – Some global or international companies may need to be adapted to meet local laws, regulations and cultural expectations.

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