Whether you’re looking to improve your own education or to find some training for your employees, your options most likely are limited to continuing education or non-credit courses through the local community college or university, off-site seminars, or, if you're lucky, conference workshops. In some cases, your company might rent training videos or purchase a computer-based training course.
Because more companies are providing their employees with access to the Internet, you may now have the option of taking online or e-learning courses.
What to Consider in an Online or E-learning Course Before you begin looking for an online course, here are some things to consider:
• What do you want to learn? Develop your learning objectives by completing this statement: "After taking this course, I will be able to..." Use this statement to determine whether a particular course will meet your learning objectives.
• What's your personal learning style? Many people feel more comfortable if they know there is an instructor available to guide them and answer their questions. Others prefer to learn at their own pace. Some people like to interact with other participants through discussion groups or chats. Visual learners like more graphics than text. Others would rather listen to narration than read text. Choose a course with delivery methods that are compatible with your learning style. A self-study course may not be right for you if you learn best with an instructor and group discussion. If you prefer a self-study course, determine the extent to which you can control the pace of the course and determine the order in which to take lessons.
• Where do you plan to take the course? Will you take it at your desk or at some other location? Plan to take the course where you'll be free from distractions and interruptions. Some people choose to take their course before or after work hours.
• How much time can you realistically devote to the course? Some courses can be completed in an hour or two. Others may take a week or more. Match course duration with the time you have available.
• What type of computer system do you plan to use for the course? Your computer's Internet connection and processor speed will determine how well the course will run on your system. Some courses require plug-in applications, such as Flash. A few courses may not be accessible or may not run properly because of your company's network configuration or firewall. In some cases, the vendor can adapt the course to your Internet connection.
• How much can you or your company afford to pay? Courses can cost anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. In general, technical and computer courses cost more, especially if they involve certification. A course with a live instructor, chat sessions and multimedia also will cost more than a self-paced one with limited media.
What to Look for in an Online Course Once you've determined your learning needs, style, location and budget, you're ready to go to the learning portal of your choice to find an appropriate course. Consider these factors when choosing an online course:
• What level of training does the course offer? Some online courses are designed to help you learn a specific work-related task. Other courses are intended to provide general knowledge about a particular subject. Still others prepare learners for certification on computer applications.
• Does the course provide an appropriate level of interactivity? The course should be interactive enough for you to practice new skills. Look for exercises that challenge your skill and knowledge.
• Does the course have a valid pre-course assessment? An effective course will give you an opportunity to find out what you already know so you focus on the lessons you need to learn. At the same time, there should be a valid post-course evaluation to measure whether you've achieved the course objectives.
• Does the course have an independent review and rating? Course quality varies widely. Even courses that are offered by the same vendor could have different levels of quality. Check reviews and ratings by independent sources such as Training Media Review at www.tmreview.com.
Answering these questions for each course you're considering will make it easier for you to compare similar courses and to choose the right online course to meet your learning needs.
Audrey Choden owns and operates Training by Design. She has more than 15 years of experience helping small and medium-sized companies create custom courses to meet their specific employee training needs. She can be reached at (913) 432-7414 or at
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