Learning Online – A brief guide
Learning online is different to
learning in a classroom and this
article discusses the relative
benefits of learning online
versus group discussion and
more traditional methods of
learning and training.
So what is learning online?
Anytime a person sits in front of a computer, it can be argued that they are
learning something. It might only be a trivial item like what their friends are
doing on face book or the time of the next train to London, but they are
learning.
Taking that to the next level, ask yourself, as a manager, what do you want
them to learn or how will the learning benefit your business or service.
Clearly finding out that Clare is friends with Charlotte on Face book is not very
useful.
(Incidentally, how do you currently select people for classroom training, do
you send everyone on the same course?... thought so)
Online learning allows learners to move at their own pace.
So no stopping to wait for slower learners to catch up or waiting while more
able ones try to catch the trainer out...
Learning modules can be released daily, weekly or at any interval to suit you
or your learners. You can specify that a learner must study and complete
Module X before moving onto Module Y for example. You really can get that
level of control..
Everything on a computer is logged - that can help you..
Every time you (or any body) visits any website, they leave an electronic
footprint. (When you shop online, have you ever wondered how stores can
\"remember\" you?)
Taking that a stage further, if we can chose what websites(courses) our staff
look at and what pages they look at (the answers they give to tests etc) this
can give us very powerful information.
But won't this take away from my existing training?
No, it will give it another dimension. Imagine, if you could say to staff,
\"Please read this text and answer these short questions before the training
session on the 21st of next month\"
Learning online http://www.sharp-end-training.co.uk

Learning Online – A brief guide
and you could actually test who
had done that...
Tangible evidence for appraisal,
disciplinary, health and safety &
legal compliance etc etc all
without you lifting a finger..
Do you need a special computer to learn online?
No, good online learning & training should be able to be viewed over an
ordinary computer
Does online learning include sound & video?
Almost anything you can do in a classroom, you can replicate online.. Video,
sound, pictures, anything
So will online learning replace the classroom?
We don't think so, but it can certainly be used as a valuable to for trainers and
managers. There are some things which are best learnt in the classroom.
These include the so-called \"soft skills\" where discussion and debate are part
of the learning process.
More technical skill areas and learning the theory of something can easily be
transferred to online. (For instance, you aren't going to learn how to present
the news by completing our presentation skills course
- but you will learn important theories, relaxation techniques etc)
To try an online training course, we have prepared a special short course on
meetings & time management . You can get free access, just by going to our
free training course
This short report was brought to you by Sharp End Training. The UK’s leading
workplace assessment company.
We can help you get more value from your training budget and spending by
helping you accurately target where you spend money.
Using our range of online courses, you can get the headstart on your
competitors.
You can see more about us at http://www.sharp-end-training.co.uk/about.html
Learning online http://www.sharp-end-training.co.uk