Is eLearning As Effective as Instructor-Led Training?
One of the biggest beneficiaries' of the rise of the Internet has been the eLearning industry. Online courses have gone from fad to norm and you'd now be hard-pressed to find a friend or colleague who hasn't participated in an eLearning course of some kind. Many companies use some sort of online safety program and while many prefer more traditional classroom training, online coursework has definitely become a staple of any well-rounded safety program.
Online Safety Training vs. Traditional Classroom Training
To find out why online safety training has begun to fill training gaps left behind by traditional classroom training we have to look at the major differences between the two. And one area where online safety training shows its strengths is course consistency.
Traditional classrooms are dependent on a present teacher, and the location and time of the training can influence which teachers are available. This variance from teacher to teacher is something that eLearning virtually eliminates. An online safety training course will theoretically cover the exact same subject matter in the same detail for every participant, no matter when they complete the course.
Online safety training is also cheaper than traditional classroom training. With no teacher to hire, online courses, webinars and workshops can all be made available at the click of a mouse and for a cost-effective rate.
The power of the Internet also allows online safety training to be much easier to schedule, implement and track results. Online safety training doesn't have to adhere to any strict timeframe and can be scheduled to fit each employee. Training can often be completed anywhere an employee can connect to the Internet, allowing for the individual freedom to tackle the training when its most convenient. Online safety training also allows managers to track which employees have completed the set objectives, gather feedback and monitor results.
The Worth of a Great Teacher
Online safety training has some great benefits but many people still prefer to be taught by a teacher in a more structured environment. For some, having an expert who they can ask real-time questions is an invaluable training tool. These more traditional methods are still extremely effective and have a capacity for interaction and hands-on learning that most online courses can't provide.
Best of Both Worlds
One of the greatest benefits of implementing online safety training combined with some traditional teacher-based education is that it promotes a culture of learning. By taking the best attributes of both learning worlds you'll be creating a more robust, convenient and inclusive training program that is more likely to be embraced by your workforce.
Balancing different personalities and learning types requires flexibility when it comes time to implement safety training. Online safety training allows trainers and managers to fill gaps left behind by teacher-based training and connects employees with a wealth of information that is easy for them to engage.
Combined with effective and timely teaching, this balanced approach is the framework for many modern safety training and education programs. But everyone has their preferred way to learn: Do you prefer online courses or teacher-based training? And why?
