How we learn and educate our workforce has changed with the emergence of new, innovative technologies. Training courses and bulky handbooks have become a thing of the past in favour of digital eLearning platforms. But, what is eLearning? In this blog, we’ll delve into the ins and outs of everything to do with eLearning, so that you’re fully clued up.
At Instinct Resourcing we dedicate ourselves to eLearning recruitment, linking businesses with specialist candidates. With expertise across multiple sectors and disciplines, we are experts in our field who are armed with over 10 years of industry experience connecting qualified eLearning professionals with the positions they can excel in.
No matter if you’re looking for an LMS Administrator or an eLearning developer for your public sector organisation, technology company or beyond, at Instinct we can connect you with the candidates you need. If you’re searching for eLearning professionals, contact us today or submit a vacancy to begin optimising how your training processes function.
But, first, let’s get into the meaning of eLearning.
What is eLearning?
Looking for an eLearning meaning? Short for ‘electronic learning’, eLearning simply refers to the presentation of educational content on a digital platform to be consumed on a computer, smartphone, tablet or beyond. These platforms allow people to access courses and training sessions anywhere and anytime, making the process of training and onboarding clients simple.
Transforming how individuals and businesses acquire knowledge, eLearning provides a convenient way to digest information without the need for physical training sessions.
Why has eLearning gained popularity?
In the ever-changing digital landscape, eLearning courses provide a convenient, adaptable and cost-effective solution to employee training and much more. The demand for this has grown in recent years thanks to the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic which has seen a large increase in employees working from home. In addition to the needs of businesses for their employees to constantly upskill, the use of eLearning tools has become crucial to the modern workplace.
What types of eLearning are there?
Now we’ve answered ‘What is eLearning’, let’s get into what types of digital learning can be provided.
Everyone learns in a slightly different way from the next, so having different types of eLearning delivery formats is essential to offer companies flexible options that suit that organisation and cash flow. The most popular eLearning types include the following options:
Asynchronous eLearning
Giving users the freedom and flexibility to ease through a course at their own desired pace, Asynchronous eLearning is a popular method that gives users constant access to courses. This type of eLearning can come in several forms, from pre-recorded training sessions to specially made LMS platforms that deliver and track eLearning courses.
Synchronous eLearning
Unlike Asynchronous which requires personal completion, Synchronous eLearning is a collaborative experience that allows users to interact with their peers in a digital working environment. This active, participatory type of eLearning encourages discussion and collaboration in real-time and is particularly favoured by businesses that wish to foster a collective working environment.
Blended eLearning
As the name suggests, blended eLearning involves a combination of physical, face-to-face training courses and online eLearning. Many employers find that this type of eLearning makes a more engaged workforce, focusing employees who prefer a mix of solo learning and physical, interactive guidance with a member of the team.
Mobile eLearning
In the 21st century, everyone practically has a phone on them at all times, making mobile eLearning possibly the most convenient type available to consumers. This type of eLearning allows users to access courses on their phones so that training can be completed whenever and wherever they like. This lets people work at their own pace and complete courses at the most convenient time possible.
Video eLearning
In the contemporary world of TikTok tutorials and YouTube training sessions, an increasing number of people are using video content to learn new skills. Video eLearning has therefore become one of the most popular types of digital learning. Using visual and audio methods, video eLearning courses can provide a clear and concise training course for users.
Gamification
Getting users invested in eLearning courses is one of the best ways to consolidate information for the future. As a result, Gamification has become a popular form of eLearning, using game elements like point systems, leaderboards and much more to entice and engage users. There are no limits to what ends you could take this type of eLearning course, from short quizzes to full interactive games.
Virtual reality
One of the most cutting-edge types of eLearning is the use of virtual reality that can place a user in a harmless recreation of a scenario to put their learned skills to the test. This allows users to practically engage with their eLearning courses and gain the confidence to put what they’ve learned into practice, earning real-time feedback for their efforts.
Different eLearning platforms
Once you’ve decided that you want a tailored training course for your business, it’s time to choose an appropriate eLearning platform. Indeed, not every eLearning platform is made the same, with each one providing different benefits to different kinds of users. Just some of the most popular eLearning platforms include:
Moodle: A free open-source LMS known for its superior flexibility, making it ideal for those who want to make engaging courses in the education sector.
Alta by Knewton: An innovative platform, Knewton claims that its Alta platform can intuitively adapt to the needs of the user, perceptively analysing areas of improvement. This gives operators an instant overview of individual performance.
Querium: An AI-enhanced eLearning platform created for mobile learning, Querium focuses on educational courses in the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Querium is built to integrate with existing LMS platforms.
Google Classroom: Easily integrating with your business’s existing LMS platform, Google Classroom found particular success during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering users the ability to create interactive resources that provide real-time feedback.
LinkedIn Learning: Home to over 16,000 courses and compatibility with each major language, those who choose LinkedIn Learning can tailor training sessions by uploading their own videos and documents.
How eLearning platforms track progress
Whether they’re built into the LMS or integrated later, tracking technologies monitor the performance of the user and how much they are engaged when carrying out their training. In addition to built-in solutions, SCORM and xAPI are the two most popular platforms for tracking progress.
SCORM
Standing for Sharable Content Object Reference Model, SCORM is used to track the completion status and efficiency of eLearning users. Compatible only with an existing LMS platform, as well as tracking progress SCORM standardises eLearning content from one LMS to the next. This saves you time and money while also providing a convenient space to manage your users.
xAPI
While SCORM only tracks the progress of users from within an LMS, xAPI will extend beyond an LMS, monitoring progression in other areas including webinars and videos. This information is then stored within a Learning Record Store (LRS) which is later transferred to the LMS. Ideal for a blended eLearning solution, xAPI is more comprehensive than SCORM, providing detailed, flexible tracking even when offline.
Why is eLearning so great?
Now we’ve answered ‘What is eLearning’, it’s likely that you’ve already begun considering its many benefits.
The versatile nature of eLearning platforms means that they can be used for a range of applications, suiting all kinds of customers and businesses. No matter if you want to develop the skills of your workforce or allow overseas employees to learn remotely, the applications for eLearning tools are endless. But this is just one reason why they’re so appreciated.
Quickly onboard new employees
When you welcome a new employee into the team you want them to integrate as quickly as possible, but with the sheer amount of necessary training sessions, this can take time. Using an eLearning platform makes this process considerably faster, turning a normal compliance training session into something smooth, simple and interactive.
An engaging and innovative eLearning session will not only quicken the onboarding process but will also create a more knowledgeable and effective workforce.
Save time and money
In the past, learning sessions involved costly instructors and training tools, but cutting-edge eLearning can save you money by simply using a digital platform. Since time is also money, this same platform can be efficiently adapted according to any organisational changes, being a far more cost-effective and time-efficient solution than completely overhauling a traditional training programme.
Streamline your operations
Traditional methods of employee training take time, effort and resources to complete to a high standard, but by introducing a robust eLearning platform you can easily streamline your business processes. Allow people to complete eLearning in their own time and you will likely find that they will more efficiently absorb the relevant information.
Train customers
Specially made eLearning platforms aren’t just useful for onboarding employees, they can also be crucial for training your customers or partners. By creating a tailor-made eLearning platform for your organisation you can easily connect with business partners and ensure that you both work from the same philosophies.
Reduce your carbon footprint
Improving environmental sustainability is becoming key to the success of modern businesses across the globe. A sufficient eLearning platform will substantially reduce paper consumption that would have otherwise been used on training materials. In addition, online eLearning courses eliminate the need for any potential commuting and can communicate a range of eco-conscious concepts quickly and efficiently.
What does the future of eLearning look like?
The world of eLearning has already transformed significantly since the turn of the new millennium. The emergence of new technologies has led to new, exciting trends in eLearning that have provided engaging alternatives to traditional lessons. This trend is only set to continue as new technologies and platforms develop, with the following innovations set to transform eLearning.
Artificial intelligence (AI): Some platforms are already using AI in their solutions, but it is due to play a much bigger role in the future as the technology develops. Intelligent AI can become a game-changer in the application of role-play exercises, virtual tutors and more, allowing users to test their skills against a smart responder.
Virtual Reality (VR): Completely immersing the user in a digital world through the use of a headset, VR offers an unparalleled method of user focus and captivation. In the education sector, this could mean virtual lessons that allow students to explore and better understand historical, geographical or scientific environments, giving a tactile learning experience in a safe working environment.
Augmented reality (AR): Often confused with VR, AR offers distinctly different opportunities for the future of eLearning. Incorporating digital content elements into the real world using anything from a mobile phone to specially designed glasses, eLearning developers have already begun exploring the possibilities of AR eLearning. This materialises in the form of relevant, useful data, including information, diagrams and much more that enhances the learning experience.
How Instinct can help you
Now we’ve answered the question of ‘What is eLearning’, you can start optimising your business with us.
Understanding the importance of eLearning in the modern business landscape, we are passionate about connecting qualified candidates with the perfect industry positions. Experts in our field, our team works differently from other recruiters, using our boutique service to deliver you new applicants with pace and efficiency so that you can streamline your operations as soon as possible.
- Find the specialists you need: Using our vast talent pool of eLearning experts we can directly access the qualified specialists for you, saving you time and resources.
- Speed up your recruitment process: We use our unrivalled network to find the very best candidates for you with ease and efficiency. We even offer a 24-hour turnaround for on-contract clients if you quickly need an eLearning expert.
- Offload your recruitment responsibilities: Recruitment takes time, money and resources, especially when you’re trying to find eLearning specialists. Offload your responsibilities to us and we’ll sort the entire process from our initial consultation meeting all the way to our aftercare offerings.
Want to directly allocate eLearning specialists in a crowded recruitment market? Contact us today and discover how we can help you streamline your recruitment process and find the professionals who can elevate your business. Here to support the growth of both businesses and eLearning candidates by offering a comprehensive recruitment platform, elevate with Instinct today.
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