FEBRUARY 22 marks Digital Learning Day (#DLDay); an opportunity to highlight how technology can strengthen the student’s learning experience.
The learning process is, however, both complex and personal. It’s therefore important that any e-learning system takes account of these complexities and personal preferences.
Before committing to any form of digital learning programme in the workplace, here are some key questions that both employers and employees should ask:
Is it relevant?
To gain maximum benefit from an investment in digital training, organisations should ensure that it is relevant to their learners’ day-to-day work and industry sector. The best e-learning programmes offer selectable case studies, exercises and scenarios to keep it real as far as possible. The learning experience can be further enhanced by gaming-quality graphics that simulate real-life experiences.
It is accessible?
Despite their sophistication in other areas, top-quality e-learning packages should be simple to access. The key elements are a device (computer, laptop or tablet), an internet connection and a secure login. This set-up allows learners to log on at a time and place to suit them, making digital solutions ideal for those who work remotely or on shifts. Multinational organisations should check that e-learning programmes are available in different languages, to ensure consistency of training standards.
Is it engaging?
In its early form, e-learning was used to teach fairly basic computing-related subjects. This is no longer the case, with a rich and diverse range of digital courses available in subjects spanning everything from law, accountancy and banking to health and safety, procurement and social work. E-learning is particularly useful when it comes to learning skills that are essential but infrequently practised. In Matrix’s line of work - incident investigation - online training is necessary as occupational incidents are not routine. Crucially, learners can revisit the modules at any time to brush up their knowledge.
Is it cost-effective?
Software that is interactive, sophisticated and available in multiple languages doesn’t come cheap – and neither should it. Employers should carefully weigh up their e-learning investment against the classroom alternatives, not forgetting the hidden costs of time away from the workplace, travel expenses and accommodation charges. Organisations seeking to reduce their carbon footprint may also favour digital learning for its potential to lower their environmental impact.
Why not use Digital Learning Day as a catalyst to explore your e-learning options?