Almost everyone who uses a computer has completed some type of e-learning. Perhaps it could be web-based training, online learning, or computer-based training, but it’s all under the same e-learning umbrella. E-learning can encompass a wide variety of online initiatives.
A good, broad way to think about e-learning is the use of electronic devices (computers, tablets, or phones) to deliver educational or training content to learners or your staff.
Many people would recognize a basic e-learning course as a slide-based online activity that contains simple navigation buttons (such as Next and Back) and incorporates quizzes with true/false or multiple-choice questions. However, not all e-learning courses share the same fingerprint. For example, it could be an inherently responsive web-based course that allows learners to have a great learning experience no matter what device they’re using to view their course. Or maybe it’s a software simulation that demonstrates the click path through an application. Or an interactive course that features role-playing and complex decision-making.
Why E-Learning and The Value of Training to Your Organization. At Cure Technologies, we understand the need and importance of providing training for your workforce to achieve high performance and profit for your business. This is why we believe that implementing e-learning as part of your work ethic is important based on the following benefits.
Effective Training Leads to Efficiency
Proper training ensures tasks are performed in the most optimal, time-saving way. Without it, employees might adopt less efficient methods, leading to wasted time and money.
Standardizing Business Procedures
Consistent training in business processes ensures uniformity in task execution, which is crucial for maintaining a consistent customer experience. Without standard training, customer service reps may handle tasks differently, resulting in inconsistent messaging and potential customer confusion.
Confident Employees
Employee training programs provide cost savings and consistency, while also empowering workers with the confidence needed to perform their roles effectively. Comprehensive training helps eliminate the discomfort of uncertainty and the reluctance to ask questions, resulting in happier, more skilled, and confident employees.
Since training provides a lot of value, it might be confusing to hear that training departments still often struggle to prove their merit. When organizations make financial cuts, training budgets are typically the first to get the axe. Why is that? A huge part of the reason is: that a lot of the e-learning that is created is not needed in the first place. This happens because managers who sense a performance problem often jump to this conclusion: “We need to train our employees to solve this performance problem!” Then, in most cases, the training is created without ever conducting a proper training needs analysis to determine whether training will solve the core performance issue.
The problem with this “jump in and build it” approach is that many performance problems will not be solved by training. Training can only solve a performance issue if the cause of the issue is that employees don’t have the knowledge and skills to carry out certain tasks. Performance problems can result from a variety of causes, including, but not limited to, lack of:
- Motivation
- Incentives
- Consequences
- Proper processes
- Capacity (mental or physical)
- Proper equipment or technology
- And the list goes on …
As you can see, performance issues at an organization are not always solved with training. Sometimes, putting the proper incentives in place can do the trick. Other times, upgrading your employees’ technical equipment might solve the performance issue.
We provide Specific Training based on your Needs
As training designers, we often want to go “all the way” with our training solutions. This comes from a good place; we want to help our learners and give them all the information they need. We also want to show our value by creating awesome and detailed resources. But this might lead us to design an hour-long e-learning module when a ten-minute video or a simple one-page job aid will do. Remember, training can come in many different formats, including:
- E-learning module
- Instructor-led workshop
- Job aids or standard operating procedures
- On-the-job coaching or mentoring
- Simulation or role-play
- Reading
- Lecture
How we provide employees with the training they need should be an outcome of many variables, including your time and budget. At Cure Technologies, we will lead your e-learning development implementation for you with ease.