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Is Online Learning The Future Of Education?

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Are we going to see a rise in more professionals learning online?

In the future, more students could find themselves being transported to virtual and online learning spaces without ever needing to physically leave the office. But, will virtual and online training methods replace classroom-based training and make it as authentic as being there in the classroom?

Employees who are effectively trained are happier and more productive, so it's important to consider the material that needs to be taught and the method for teaching it. In this article, we will explore all of the different training methods and what they actually mean.

Self-Paced E-Learning is typically the most cost-efficient training method. Since there is no tutor teaching the material, it cannot be tailored to a student or business's needs. Self-Paced E-Learning can have an infinite number of delegates at any one time. It is stored on a company's LMS (Learning Management System) and given access to once paid for. Because it is solely online and readily available, it can be accessed anywhere, making learning flexible for the student. Self-Paced E-Learning has global accessibility as there is no time restraint. For example, an American-based training company sells a course to a delegate in the UK.

Virtual Learning has seen significant growth due to the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years. Classroom-Based training courses have moved to video conferencing software, making them virtual. As Virtual Learning is delivered by a tutor, the training course can be tailored to meet a business or student's needs. Some of the most popular video conferencing software are Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Video conferencing limits the number of participants from around 100-1000 depending on software. As there are no travel or accommodation expenses, the course is cheaper than its classroom-based equivalent. Little flexibility can be offered to students by businesses. Students can access the course anywhere, but it is best to access it from work or at home.

Online Learning is both Self-Paced E-Learning, Virtual Learning and more... How many times have you searched How To _____ then watched a YouTube video or read through a step-by-step guide? Essentially, that is online learning. Anything you have taught yourself by using resources found online is online learning. We do it all the time without even thinking about it. 90% of the time, content is free and readily available. Other times it is part of gated content.

Classroom-Based Learning is physically in person, typically in a classroom or onsite at a business. It can be highly tailored to a student or business's needs. It is more expensive than online learning due to the high running costs and expenses. It is the only training method that caters to visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic learners. It has a higher impact on the environment due to travelling and the need to manufacture physical worksheets.

Blended Learning is a mixture of Self-Paced E-Learning, Virtual Learning, Online Learning or Classroom-Based Learning. It is incredibly popular with Virtual Learning or Classroom-Based Learning combined with Self-Paced E-Learning. In addition, students also complete some self-study work outside of the course they are enrolled in.

With an ever-changing and evolving world, the importance of continuous learning is more important than ever to keep ahead of your competitors. Businesses need agile and effective strategies in place to be able to cope with the developing world. With technology advancing so quickly, best practices can quickly become obsolete. By opting for this strategy, organisations will see benefits such as Higher return on investment, higher retention of employees, and a higher skill level of staff. The employee will also benefit from a higher skill level, higher employability, and be more likely to be promoted. Self-Paced E-Learning has made continuous learning more economical for organisations, by being 40-60% less time consuming than a classroom-based course and is accessible globally.

What will the future of Online Learning look like? Will we see the death of Classroom-Based Learning? Will it transform into solely Online Learning?

VR and AR will play a massive role in subjects that are practical and physical. Big Data and Machine Learning will play a massive part in the future of online learning. By receiving data from recent and past courses individuals have taken, machine learning can tailor a course to individual and company needs through algorithms. Machine learning will detect whether someone has understood a concept or not and take a different approach to tutor the delegate. In the far future, we will see it develop to AI developing and manufacturing courses based on the needs of other business sectors. Businesses themselves and the individual's needs.

Managing Virtual Teams Online Workshop (30 Minutes)

About The Author

Lois McConnachie

Lois McConnachie

I have been working at Purple Griffon for a total of 8 years. In my role as Senior Sales Executive, I always strive to deliver a high standard of customer service, which forms the basis of all of my interactions with customers, both old and new. I believe that fostering positive relationships and understanding customer needs are essential for providing effective training solutions. In my personal time, I enjoy relaxing with my Fiancé, drinking iced coffee and watching too much anime.

Tel: +44 (0)1539 736 828

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