E-learning Eases Education Web-based training levels the playing field for small and medium-sized businesses.
By Sarah Nichols
There’s no doubt about it—attracting and retaining great employees hinges on an employer’s willingness to provide benefits, including training. So how can small business owners compete with corporate giants in the realm of training and development? One solution is to harness the power of e-learning. Web-based training offers several features that make it attractive to small- and medium-sized businesses.
E-learning is Affordable Business owners gain access to thousands of training programs in a pay-as-you-go model, so they pay only for the courses they need. It allows small businesses to create their own, customized “corporate universities” without spending the capital to acquire products, license them for use and implement a learning management system to organize and track the e-learning process.
Some providers of educational Web-based content specialize in topics, such as general work skills, computer basics, information technology, English as a second language, industrial technology/safety skills, management/leadership and personal development. These broad topics include specifically focused courses, which allow the employer to meet each employee’s area of need. For example, under general work skills, an employer might instruct an employee to brush up on applied mathematics, or under management/leadership, a small business owner might suggest an employee take a course dealing with interpersonal communication.
Depending on their situation, small business owners may be able to offer their employees more through Web-based training than through seminars or instructor-led programs. In fact, often e-learning can be more cost-effective than instructor-led training because the Web-based solution does not require one to factor in meals, mileage, travel time and other related expenses.
E-learning is Convenient By turning to e-learning, employees have access to training 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Although many testing centers offer on-site testing capabilities (attractive for those who want to go off-site for training), many of the courses are available anytime and anywhere there is an Internet connection. In fact, employees can complete training right at their own desks, at their own pace.
Even major universities are increasingly offering online coursework. Continuing education and even degree completion is available through the Web. Employees who may have left school a few credit hours short of a diploma can complete their degree programs by accessing online classes offered by the university.
Technology has made distance learning a completely different experience than old correspondence courses. Professors and students can easily pass assignments back and forth, and professors can provide immediate feedback and guidance. Students can participate in class discussions via online chat rooms, and all class materials can be posted for download as the students need them. Even tests can be administered online. E-learning allows employees the benefits of upgrading their knowledge and skills with less disruption to their home and work lives.
E-learning is Effective Many companies find Web-based training is more effective than stand-up or video-based training because employees can learn at their own pace, taking as much time as they need with each topic. In fact, many courseware vendors allow participants to go back and review the content up to a year later at no additional charge. In addition, it can be easier to tailor each employee’s individual training needs when using Web-based training. However, with Web-based training, an employer is able to handpick and customize the teamwork area where the employee needs the most training, making the employee’s experience thorough and comprehensive.
Web-based courses provide a notable return on investment (ROI), as well. One company that evaluated its success after implementing an e-learning initiative found the results impressive. For each employee, the company saw an average ROI of 121 percent, or $1.21 for every training dollar spent. The flexibility of the Web-based courses also made the program even more cost-effective for the company. Participants indicated that 88 percent of training was conducted outside regular business hours. The additional savings in hourly wages increase the total ROI to 244 percent, or $2.44 for every training dollar.
E-learning Benefits Employees who upgrade their knowledge and skills benefit both themselves and their employer. Web-based training provides convenient access to a broad range of quality programs at a reasonable cost, which will enhance the skills and careers of employees. The affordability, convenience and effectiveness of e-learning allows small businesses to offer a level of training comparable to many large corporations. Sarah Nichols is marketing director for ACT/RMI Media, a content distributor in the educational and training industry. Nichols may be contacted at or (913) 768-1696, or visit the Web site at www.rmimedia.com.
