The Importance of E- Learning in Today’s Corporate World
The concept of e-learning is not new to corporate organizations and individuals albeit the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the need for organizations to leverage technology platforms to drive learning initiatives. e-Learning (or electronic learning) can be described as the process of learning or instructing using digital tools such computers, mobile devices, and software programs.
There is an increased need for companies to provide digital learning solutions to employees. Organizations can achieve far more with digital learning than ever before. The article outlines the advantages of digital learning as well as reasons organizations should rethink how they approach learning.
Why it is imperative for organizations to leverage digital platforms for learning
The use of digital platforms for learning is dramatically changing our education system and the corporate world should be willing to adopt this new reality. Hi-speed internet, as well as other technological advances are slowly ending the days of classroom training. As a result, it is increasingly challenging for learners to focus and stay awake during prolonged classroom training sessions. Studies show that eLearning takes 60% less time to learn the same information as in a classroom. Learning providers need to find ways of engaging learners in their training programs. Technology makes it possible.
The advancement in technology makes it easier to access information faster and more accessible. Individuals can now access news articles, videos and podcasts, as well as other digital content, much quicker. The benefits of e-learning are numerous, we have listed some of them below
1. E-Learning offers more freedom in the delivery of training and when to do it.
2. Information can now be easily accessed anywhere through digital learning.
3. E-Learning courses tend to be less costly, which can help employers save additional money.
4. The number of students who can simultaneously take the course is virtually unlimited, unlike traditional classroom training.
5. Learners can learn digitally at their own pace, increasing retention and engagement.
The future of corporate learning
For organizations to survive, they must constantly evolve to meet the needs of our ever-changing world and e-Learning is a key enabler for the success and growth of any organization. According to Forbes, “Companies like IBM, Sears, and Visa are starting to turn off their old systems and build a new generation of learning infrastructure that looks more like a ‘learning network’ and less like a single integrated platform.” Forward thinking organizations acknowledge the fact that employees are more receptive to e-Learning, they understand that the younger generation of the workforce grew up with technology embedded in their daily lives and education, hence they are tailoring their training to accommodate, interactive videos and other multimedia learning techniques. This aspect is crucial to the success of these organizations, as other organisations that do not evolve quickly will soon fade.
A study by the Journal of e-Learning and Higher Education states that “Satisfaction level with web-enhanced teaching increased to 95% in the 2011 – 2012 investigation, compared to 73% – 87% in the 2003 – 2004 one.” This study shows that in both investigations students were pleased with the concept of online learning, especially the students from 2011 – 2012. These studies should help organizations realize that ELearning isn’t just an option for education and training, but a fundamental and powerful educational tool that businesses can adopt. E-Learning has been a key component in education and training, and will continue to be so.
Organizations who continuously improve and adapt their systems and processes in order to stay relevant and competitive will thrive. If an organization is serious about its survival, it must update the skills of their workers and improve how they learn.