For years, e-learning was considered a cost-effective but ultimately inferior way to receive training.
Prospective trainees would gravitate towards online learning if they didn’t have the wherewithal to go to an in-person course, which often have limited dates and small class sizes.
However, the past two years have shown us that it’s not only possible to work and study effectively from home but it may in fact be preferable.
E-learning offers the same sorts of benefits compared to in-person training as remote working does when compared to commuting into the office.
There are a variety of ways in which e-learning can be delivered. The term describes any form of learning that’s delivered electronically. It can encompass pre-recorded lectures, live lessons and graphical interfaces.
Each type of e-learning course is designed for a specific purpose, but each one offers the same advantages for people looking to study from the comfort of their own homes.
In this blog, we look at five benefits of e-learning, and help you discover online training courses that are suitable for you.
What are the benefits of e-learning?
1. Cost
Arguably the biggest benefit of e-learning compared to classroom-based learning is the cost.
Whether you’re paying for the course yourself or your employer is pitching in, a training course is almost always a big investment.
Training providers generally provide online courses at the same rate as in-person courses, but that’s not the only cost you have to consider. With classroom courses, you have to travel to the venue and may also have to pay for accommodation, food, parking and other costs.
These things aren’t necessary with online courses, because you can study from the comfort of your own home. For training courses that are three days or more, you can therefore save more than £300 by studying at home.
2. Convenience
There are other downsides to travelling to your classroom besides the cost. There’s also the inconvenience of having to wake up early to drive or catch the train to your location, plus the stress that comes with that journey.
Many of us are now used to comparatively late starts, and don’t want to spend our mornings and evenings commuting. With most online training courses taking place during office hours, you don’t have to change your daily routine.
Meanwhile, some e-learning training courses can be taken at whatever time suits you, giving you even more flexibility to fit learning around your day-to-day commitments.
3. Accessibility
One of the major drawbacks of in-person training is that you are limited to training courses that are within travelling distance.
There may be a perfect training option for you that’s run by a leading industry figure, but it’s simply not feasible to get to the venue and so you have to choose a lesser option.
This isn’t something you have to worry about with online training. You can attend a training course from anywhere in the world as long as you have an Internet connection and a webcam.
4. Speed
E-learning provides course information much more efficiently than a classroom or in-house course can. There typically isn’t a limit on class sizes, so any number of people can be trained at any one time.
Plus, unlike classroom courses, e-learners can control the pace with which lessons are delivered. You can pause lessons if a distraction arises or if you want to revisit something that the instructor has said, and you don’t have to worry about delays caused by other learners.
As such, you can be sure that the training course was delivered neither too quickly nor too slowly. It will always be at a pace that’s comfortable for you.
5. Consistency
The success of a training course depends largely on the person delivering the training course and the mix of people attending.
Learners’ experiences are subject to the personality and mood of the trainer, and potentially to the demands of the loudest and most demanding attendees.
Although a good teacher and a spirited classroom can make for a productive learning experience, this isn’t always a guarantee.
Indeed, many training courses suffer because attendees distract from others or because the trainer, who has often taught this course hundreds of times, doesn’t provide an engaging experience.
E-learning courses mitigate the risk of an unengaging or disrupted experience by creating a more structured approach. Everyone receives the same learning experience and there is greater emphasis on the content being delivered as opposed to the environment in which it is produced.
This approach also makes assessment far easier. Candidates are evaluated automatically and impartially as they proceed.
Find the e-learning course that’s right for you
GRC E-Learning offers more than a dozen online training courses across a range of topics, including information security, ransomware prevention and social media staff awareness.
No matter what you are looking to study or educate your employees on, we are here to help.
Our e-learning courses are designed by experts and have received an NPS rating of +68.
The courses can be embedded into your staff awareness campaigns, whether that’s on your network or hosted on our servers. Plus, you can customise the training courses with your corporate identity, giving employees an authentic experience while reinforcing your brand.
With courses starting from £2 per user per year, you can get started today.
