Real-time
access. Live
learning events require that those who participate align their
schedules to the training calendar. E-learning eliminates this
because the course can be accessed anytime, anywhere. This can also
happen without Internet access. I saw a Red Cross demo where the
learners accessed the content on a PC out in the field and uploaded
their results when they were back online.
Freedom
to fail.
Let’s face it, real learning requires some failure. But no one
likes to fail in a classroom full of other people. E-learning lets
you fail without fear. This encourages exploration and testing of
ideas. With the right feedback you create a great learning
environment. Worst case, you can always start over. Something you
can’t always do in class.
Improved
retention.
The combination of multimedia and instructional design can produce a
very rich learning experience that is repeatable. Throw in some good
practice activities with feedback and you have a learning
environment that’s going to help your learners retain the course
content which will produce results.
- Personalized
learning.
Look out the window at your parking lot. My guess is that you’ll
see a dozen or more different cars. They all do the same thing, yet
we have personal opinions about what we want to drive. The same for
learning. Learners want control. E-learning allows you to offer
control to the learners in a way that classroom learning doesn’t.
