This presentation builds a case for e-learning by discussing the greatest benefits based on recent research.

1. The Case for
E-Learning

2. Overview
A New Approach to an Old Problem
A Cost Analysis
Other Factors
Common Myths and Misunderstandings

3. Part 1:
A New Approach to
an Old Problem

4. Why Online Learning?
• No classroom required
• No expensive classroom equipment
to purchase or support
• No travel required - Accessible
anywhere (w/ internet access)
• Ease of deployment
• Effective
• Fast
• Affordable

5. Asynchronous
• Self-paced online training available 24/7 from any
PC with web access
• Course content delivered by a central server

6. Synchronous
AKA Online Live Instructor-led
Real-time live interactive classes hosted online by
an instructor using a web-conferencing application
(Web-Ex, NetMeeting, etc.)

7. Asynchronous Online Learning
Timely – Available on-demand 24/7
No instructor required
High efficiency*
Consistent
Outstanding velocity*
Easily controlled and monitored
Promotes professional discipline
Accommodates any learning pace
Increased retention

8. Asynchronous Online Learning
 Increased information technology
competency – Student must actively use
their computers
 Easily updated
× Interaction with instructor and other
students is generally delayed (e-mail,
forums, etc.)

9. Synchronous Online Learning
 Good velocity*
 Live community interaction and
collaboration
Bound to class schedules
×
× Instructor required
Inefficient*
×
× Not sensitive to different learning paces
Compromised retention
×
× Consistency is reduced

10. Synchronous Online Learning
× Student computer use is more passive than
with asynchronous
× Updating can mean having to hold more
classes

11. Part 2:
A Cost Analysis
Traditional Instructor-Led Vs. Asynchronous Online

12. Development Cost
33 Hours @ $75/hr 100 Hours @ $75/hr
$2475 $7500
1:3
Cost Impact Cost Impact
None None
Minimal Minimal
Meaningful Meaningful
Significant Significant

13. Instructor Cost
$Hourly Rate N/A
+
$Daily Rate
Cost Impact Cost Impact
None None
Minimal Minimal
Meaningful Meaningful
Significant Significant

14. Pre/Post-Class Activity Cost
1/hr @ hourly rate N/A
Cost Impact Cost Impact
None None
Minimal Minimal
Meaningful Meaningful
Significant Significant

15. Material Cost
$20/student N/A
$280/14 students
Cost Impact Cost Impact
None None
Minimal Minimal
Meaningful Meaningful
Significant Significant

16. Instructor Travel Cost
Wide Variations N/A
Cost Impact Cost Impact
None None
Minimal Minimal
Meaningful Meaningful
Significant Significant

17. Learner Opportunity Cost
Length of class ½ length of class
+
30 min.
Cost Impact Cost Impact
None None
Minimal Minimal
Meaningful Meaningful
Significant Significant

18. Learner Travel Cost
Wide Variations N/A
Cost Impact Cost Impact
None None
Minimal Minimal
Meaningful Meaningful
Significant Significant

19. Cost Conclusions
• Cost of development is the only area where
online asynchronous learning exceeds the
related cost for traditional instructor-led
training
• Overall savings captured from online
learning generally makes online learning far
less expensive than traditional instructor-led
training

20. Part 3:
Other Factors
Supporting Asynchronous Online Learning

21. Physical Classroom
• No classroom required
• Students can take courses at their desks or
at home using computers they already have

22. Work Schedule Management
• Allows total work schedule flexibility –
Available 24/7
• Learning can be done in off-peak times for
minimal work disruption
• No need to have groups of employees away
from their primary jobs

23. Learner Pace
 Students learn at their own pace =
increased retention
 Content can be revisited as often as needed
to foster effective learning transfer

24. Overtime Management
• No need to pay overtime for coverage of
employees away from the workplace for
traditional instructor-led training

25. Efficiency
 Students have the flexibility to focus on only
the content most important to them and
skip irrelevant content
 One hour of asynchronous online learning
can provide students with more useful
information than several hours of traditional
classroom training
 Reported 2:1 time advantage
 100% efficient

26. Velocity
 Traditional classroom training requires
successive delivery of multiple classes with
few students each – Bottleneck –
 Online asynchronous training can be
delivered to hundreds of people
simultaneously – Bottleneck relief -

27. Timeliness
• Timeliness = Relevance to the task at hand
• Traditional = Just-in-case
• Online = Just-in-time
• Training can be done any time convenient to
the student

28. Consistency
• Ability to deliver the same message with
every class – Not possible with traditional
instructor-led training

29. Ease of Updating
• Content is delivered from a central server
making is easy to update
• New material can be added, old material can
be updated, and mistakes can be corrected
• Traditional training materials become rapidly
dated, obsolete, and prone to errors and
mistakes

30. Part 4:
Common Myths and
Misunderstandings

31. No “Hands-On”
• Online asynchronous learning can simulate
real-world hands-on activities to prepare
learners for the real-world application
• Simulations must be followed by real world
opportunity to apply learning
• Immediate real-world application replaces
labs and classrooms - More effective than
traditional classroom–
• Learn some. Do some. Repeat.

32. Retention Issues
• Online asynchronous learning allows
students to learn at the most effective pace
for their learning style
• Increased retention

33. No “Visibility” or Oversight
• Most online asynchronous learning solutions
have reporting and monitoring capabilities
• Important student activity is tracked and
measured

34. Learner Discipline Issues
• Online asynchronous learning promotes self-discipline
• Supervisors have “visibility” to student progress

35. Summary
• A New Approach to an Old Problem
• A Cost Analysis
• Other Factors
• Common Myths and Misunderstandings