Digital = good?
Sometimes clients come to us convinced that they need digital learning content. Why is that? Well, because it works so well. And besides, everyone is doing it now!
Not wrong - but not necessarily effective. As a learning & development agency specialising in digital learning experiences, we are of course convinced of what we are doing: Digital training is practical, versatile, delivers excellent results and motivates learners. But not always.
When it comes to training, we are not fans of standardised products. For the simple reason that standard delivers standard results - if at all. Not every company needs a digital learning platform (but most do). And e-learning is not suitable for every learning objective and content. That’s why it’s important for us to talk to our customers. This allows us to find out
a) What their real learning objective is
b) what the underlying business objective is, and
c) what kind of training the company really needs to achieve it.
Sometimes digital training is the right choice - and sometimes it isn’t. And we tell our clients the same thing. To give you an overview of the pros and cons of e-learning and perhaps help you draw conclusions for your own training needs, we have summarised the most important points for you.
Advantages of e-learning
Did you know that, according to a representative survey, half of all training in top companies will be digital by 2022?
There are many good reasons for this, in particular
1. E-learning is flexible in time and place
This advantage is obvious: digital learning platforms enable learners to learn anytime, anywhere. This lowers the barrier to learning and makes it an integral part of everyday life. Microcontent that works on the move also favours the consumption habits of modern target groups. In other words, eLearning is mobile-friendly - and therefore more attractive to employees.
2. E-learning saves a lot of money
It makes sense for companies to offer a large number of training courses, as long as they are of the right quality. After all, we need new training programmes all the time to stay competitive in the digital transformation. For many employees, choosing a new employer also depends on the training opportunities offered by the company. But training is also costly. These costs can be significantly reduced by offering part of the training programme via e-learning. Once developed, a learning platform can be used indefinitely. There are no seminar fees for instructors, seminar rooms or food and drink. And - no matter how many learners there are, the programme always costs the same.
3. E-learning encourages introversion
Not everyone is comfortable in a large room full of other people. For more introverted employees, e-learning is a welcome change from the competitive pressures of analogue training. They can concentrate better alone at the computer and often achieve better results. In addition, everyone can complete an eLearning programme at their own pace - regardless of who is faster or slower. This provides a greater sense of achievement and motivates employees to continue learning.
4. E-learning provides an immediate overview of learning success
With the right tools, learning assessment can be built right into the training. This is convenient for learners because they are always informed about their own learning success. For organisations, it means they can track the success of their teams at any time. It also ensures that everyone stays focused throughout the training programme. This is not always the case in face-to-face seminars, where people can sometimes snore away.
5. E-learning promotes digital literacy
The use of digital tools needs to be promoted more, especially in traditional companies. Companies that have integrated e-learning programmes into their training pool are doing this automatically. By constantly using the digital content, employees not only develop their expertise in the content provided. They also simply learn how to use the interactive tools.
6. E-learning offers room for gamification
Face-to-face seminars also offer many opportunities for interaction - often even more than eLearning. But when it comes to gamification, digital learning experiences are simply more practical, at least when it comes to engaging large groups of learners. It is easier to create a computer game for 100 people than it is to engage those 100 people in a workshop in a hall. In addition, the multimedia potential of digital content means that there are no limits. Nowadays, good computer graphics can depict anything, realistic or not - and this adds to the fun of the game.
7. Digital learning creates a sustainable pool of knowledge
What many companies don’t realise is the lasting value of digital learning environments: Not only are they budget-friendly in the long run, but they also provide a pool of knowledge for everyone that can be constantly expanded. This strengthens the learning culture in the organisation and (together with good communication) ensures that learning is accepted and practised as continuous development.
Disadvantages of e-learning
E-learning has many advantages and is now an essential part of successful corporate training. However, we often advise our clients not to use e-learning when a digital learning programme does not promise the greatest possible success. The reasons for this are
1. E-learning is boring because it is not very social.
Wait a minute, wait a minute! Didn’t we just praise the gamification possibilities of digital learning environments? Yes, we did - and that’s true. But even the coolest digital learning content can become boring if it ignores an important aspect of learning motivation: the social factor. If I learn alone at the computer, I may lack the stimulation of other people in the long run. A forum or similar digital exchange format can mitigate this, but not solve it completely.
2. E-learning requires too much self-motivation
If I don’t have a group to spur me on, then the whole responsibility for my learning success lies with me. This is an advantage for some (see introverts) but a disadvantage for others. Not everyone is good at self-motivation. This is not a problem in face-to-face seminars.
3. E-learning makes it difficult to share learning
As each module is completed individually, e-learning offers few opportunities for sharing. This is problematic not only because of the social aspect, but also if there are problems of understanding. Learning communities are successful not only because it is fun to learn together. They also enable rapid mutual support in learning issues, increasing everyone’s success. This is exactly the way your organisation should learn and work if you want to remain successful. Another important point is that when we learn and work together as a team, we create a real learning experience. Wow moments become possible - and these are what ensure that what has been learnt is really anchored. Analogue learning events therefore often have a greater lasting learning effect than digital ones.
4. Not all content is suitable for e-learning
There are topics that require practical work. For these, e-learning is simply not suitable. But even abstract learning situations can often be better realised in analogue seminars, i.e. when it is not just about stubborn memorisation, but about creative design and development of new things. No amount of e-learning can replace the creative drive that comes from a room full of people eager to try things out. You should bear this in mind when you ask yourself the question: eLearning or not?
5. E-learning makes improvisation difficult
As low-threshold as it is, e-learning is dependent on the Internet. Now you may object: That applies to just about everything in today’s offices. That’s true, of course. And of course, analogue learning events also require flawless technology. But: If something doesn’t work, we can quickly improvise together. And improvisation often leads to great things - such as learning experiences that have a lasting effect. People remember a classroom seminar where a bookshelf fell to the floor. Not necessarily the last e-training course.
E-learning or not - what’s right for you?
Finding the right training programme for a team is not easy. Learning needs, learning objectives, budget, business objectives, infrastructure - all these things play a role in your decision. And then there’s blended learning, the mix of analogue and digital… It’s a good thing we know all about it!
Arrange a no-obligation consultation with one of us now. We look forward to helping you develop your unique learning experience!
