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The Benefits of eLearning
The success of an organization is determined by the strength of its people. For this reason, it is critical for employees to have access to training and learning opportunities that help them stay abreast of changing industry standards, techniques, and best practices. One method that organizations are using to enhance and develop their employee's skills is eLearning. This method is a superior alternative to traditional classroom settings for delivering training materials to employees within an organization.
Adult Learning Theory
For hundreds of years, the ways that humans acquire knowledge has been examined. In the 1970s, Malcolm Knowles began to look critically at the nuances of adult learners, developing his theory of adult learning (also known as andragogy). Knowles theory is based on the following five assumptions of adult learners:
- Self-concept: As a person matures, he or she becomes more self-directed.
- Experience: Adults draw on past experiences to learn.
- Readiness: Adult readiness to learn is related to their desire for new social roles.
- Orientation: Adults want to apply new knowledge immediately in problem-solving situations.
- Motivation: Adults are motivated to learn by internal factors.
Author and adult learning specialist Marsha Speck expanded adult learning theory, adding that:
- Adults commit to learning when they can use the information in the "real world."
- Adults have an ego factor, not associated with children's learning. Adult learning must be structured to provide support from peers and reduce the fear of judgment.
- Adults find small group activities helpful for application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of new information.
- Adults benefit from coaching and similar types of support to transfer new information into daily practice.
Advantages of eLearning
eLearning provides a platform for instructional designers and trainers to educate adults in way that is consistent with adult learning theory. One major advantage is that eLearning is learner-centered and self-paced. Since material is easily accessible and delivered using the Web, eLearning is not constrained by time or location, which makes it available to global audiences. Also, without the need for instructors at multiple locations or the need for employees to take time away from work to complete training initiatives, eLearning is also economical. The format further lends itself to unlimited learning opportunities, archival opportunities for re-use of materials, and a proficient method for tracking an employee's success with learning materials.
While eLearning has many advantages, there are also some drawbacks, such as the lack of immediate of feedback from the instructor. The presence of an instructor also can be useful for motivating students when necessary. Without the familiarity of a classroom environment, eLearning might be uncomfortable for some students. It is also more difficult to build a social community around eLearning.
eLearning Success Story
Because organizations are comprised of adult learners and eLearning is advantageous for adult learners, instructional designers and other training professionals are seeing great success with eLearning for employee training. Projections Inc., a provider of custom employee communications solutions, experienced tremendous success using eLearning to help Trader Joe's, a specialty grocery store chain, provide consistent, OSHA-compliant safety training to employees nationwide.
Beginning with a dry video script, the Projections' team developed a more engaging format for delivering materials, which involved animated, interactive training modules. With numerous training topics for delivery, the Projections' team quickly realized that the program needed a unifying element consistent with Trader Joe's laidback, fun style—thus, Tiki Man was born. Tiki Man serves as more than a simple branding element. He guides employees through the training modules and offers necessary motivation during testing.
"Among employees, the 'Say Aloha to Safety' eLearning received a 30 percent higher approval rating than our more traditional training methods. To me, that means we're not just passing along information—we've engaged employees with a memorable, effective message that will be understood and retained," said Trader Joe's Safety Administrator Randy Jucksch.
Ultimately, the Projections' team created an interactive eLearning solution that delivered safety content in a humorous, engaging format to Trader Joe's employees. Projections has helped many organizations design eLearning solutions that engage employees and require them to put their knowledge into practice, using a combination of video, on-camera narration, voice-over instruction, interactive exercises, and powerful reinforcement techniques.
As an online learning tool, eLearning offers organizations a platform to deliver consistent training materials without the constraints of time and place and the overhead of traditional classroom training. Furthermore, the eLearning format is closely aligned with the tenets of adult learning theory, allowing employees to access training materials that are immediately applicable to their career and can be completed at their own pace. eLearning offers a practical solution to help organizations wisely invest in their most valuable asset—their employees.
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