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Welcome to the Online Education Success series of the Explorations Learning Network!
I'm really glad that you're back because today we'll be talking about eLearning at
Work.
Hi, I'm Avi Anderson and this
is the Explorations Learning Network
[music]
E-Learning is popping up everywhere, even at work.
Today, many employers are discovering that there are great advantages to elearning:
Lower costs, availability, and convenience.
And these employers are using a variety of online-training options to train their employees
in
- compliance issues,
knowledge and skill building,
and employee relations.
Because of the advantages of eLearning, many employers are re-considering the value of
an online education
as they hire new employees.
Some online educators have pointed out that companies are now searching for employees
who can demonstrate skills in place of a degree from a prestigious university.
For individuals searching for skills-training
like mechanics, electricians, and massage therapists.
This means that the convenience of online education
may be more valuable than the reputation of a traditional in-class program.
It's obvious that no matter what the reason
more employers are relying upon online education.
Let's look at each of these issues in more detail.
One of the most common ways that employers are using online training
is to deliver compliance training.
There is some subject matter that most employees must complete
because of local, state, or federal laws.
Compliance training is training that workers receive on specific topics
relevant to general employment or specifically for their job.
Common forms of online compliance training include courses in topics like:
*** harassment,
mandatory reporting,
workplace safety,
diversity,
discrimination,
equal opportunity and affirmative action, as well as many others.
Online compliance training is convenient for employers and employees.
It allows employers to schedule trainings as soon as a new employee is hired,
effortlessly track who has completed the training,
and easily repeat trainings that are required on an annual basis.
For employees, online compliance training provides convenience
but also allows the trainee to review the material
over and over again until they know it,
rather than just trying to remember it in order to pass a test.
Also, the information in online compliance training courses is usually presented
in a variety of formats including text, graphics, and video.
In addition, individual employees may feel a greater sense of value toward the training
because they are responsible for scheduling, attending, and successfully completing the
training.
On top of compliance training, many employers are relying on standardized
online training modules to provide instruction in basic office skills and other forms of
training.
These courses provide administrative and support personnel with training in
office procedures and the use of standard office software common to most businesses.
For example, businesses use these online courses to train employees who use
word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and project management software.
Many companies also use online courses to provide standardized training in topics like
basic bookkeeping,
business writing,
supervision, and even supply chain management.
Businesses are also developing customized online courses to deliver training for
specialized skills in an array of fields including healthcare, food-science,
medical office,
mechatronics,
engineering,
management,
education, and a variety of other fields.
All of these training options assist in lower training costs for companies for a range of
reasons.
The cost of offering the training to each employee is lower
because the training has been standardized in an electronic format.
In addition, because there is no need for a live trainer,
the cost of bringing someone in to conduct the training has been eliminated.
Further more, many employees who want to advance within the company
are willing to conduct the training off the clock.
Subsequently, maintaining productivity, while growing the company from within,
and ultimately improving the business-culture and employee loyalty.
The growth of elearning is causing many companies to reconsider the value of hiring employees
who have received training in an online environment.
Although it is too early for any significant research to differentiate between the value
of online learning
or traditional face-to-face learning.
However, according to research conducted by the PEW Research Center,
many students, educators, and employers believe that online learning is just as valuable as
traditional learning,
even when teaching technical or vocational-based skills,
commonly referred to as 'hard skills.'
Many online training developers are experimenting with animation,
augmented reality and virtual worlds
as a method for delivering hard skills to employees in a variety of industries.
This includes activities such as driving forklifts, mixing chemical ingredients,
operating complex machines,
or even operating an electrical power plant.
New elearning developers, as well as online colleges and universities are popping up every
day.
Companies like edX, Coursera, Udacity, Smarterer,
MIT OpenCourseWare,
and the Minerva Project are shaping the face of online higher-education.
And, in the case of Smarterer, are evaluating the learning, knowledge,
and skills obtained by students taking online classes.
For students, these online universities offer a one-stop shopping experience
of courses from the top professors
at the top schools all over the country
and in the case of DistanceLearningPortal.eu, courses from all over the world.
The Minerva Project is the development of, what is considered,
an online 'Ivy-League' education.
Project-innovators are currently designing Minerva University.
What they claim will be an institution committed to delivering prestigious degrees
to the future leaders of the world,
conveniently, and at half the price of traditional 'ivy league' institutions.
In addition, student selection for admission is not based upon the traditional standards
of
who you are,
how much money you have,
where you're from,
or how great an athlete you may be
but solely upon your intellectual ability.
So,
Whether you need training on the new safety procedures for your job
or you plan on being a top executive,
you can be sure that online learning will be a part of your future education.
Until next time...
The Explorations Learning Network is a production of Clark College
and is sponsored through generous donations and the support of students
and faculty
Mark Gaither is our producer and director and this episode was sponsored by a
Department of Labor grant administered by the Washington State Workforce
Training and Education Coordinating Board
The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board is a partnership of
labor, business, and government dedicated to helping Washington residents obtain
and succeed in family wage jobs while meeting employers needs for skilled
workers.
I'm Aviance Anderson for the Explorations Learning Network.
Advancing learning for the Information Age.