Pros and Cons of Online Meetings for Employee Training

Pro and Cons of eLearningWeb based training or eLearning is increasing in popularly and for good reason.  There are many benefits of training employees online but there are also limitations.  Here’s a review of eLearning Pros and Cons and some ways you can make the Cons disappear. 

 

Pros

Online meetings allow for reduction of travel and lodging costs for participants and trainers.

 

On-demand training enables students to work at their own speed and work in the training around busy schedules.

 

Virtual training increases the scope and reach of a training effort across multiple locations.

 

New technologies are coming closer and closer to mimicking the classroom environment with access to video conferencing and other engagement tools.

 

Increased mobility – Online training can take place anywhere – on the train, at a coffee shop or even on a plane.

 

Increased customization – with so many products available, eLearning can be tailored to fit the needs of any business.

 

Interactive simulations allow participants to see what to do, practice how to do it and test their knowledge with minimal effort on behalf of the trainer.  

 

As with all technologies, there are some hurtles to overcome.   

Cons

Multitasking – The temptation to check e-mails, surf the web or work on other projects might be too much for students unmotivated to learn.  Without being in the room instructors may have a hard time knowing if the participants are paying attention.

 

Social Isolation – Participants may feel isolated, miss social interaction and/or networking opportunities.

 

Traditional hands-on learning activities can be difficult to replicate online.

 

Lack of computer proficiency – Those who are uncomfortable with technology may struggle with the learning interface. 

 

Technology Issues – There really is no way around it.  Sometimes technology fails and the trainer ends up wasting valuable time trying to fix issues.

 

 

Luckily, you can limit these barriers by ensuring you purchase the right online learning environment or web conference for eLearning and utilizing some best practices.

 For example:

Limit multitasking by activating multi-point video (webcam) during your training sessions.   Have the ability to look your participants in the eyes while presenting content. 

Another way to limit multitasking is by using various engagement tools.  Increase training engagement with polls, quizzes, games, interactive slides, breakout rooms and more.  These can all help to keep attention and encourage learners to participate online.  The proper use of engagement tools can also limit social isolation and allow trainers to replicate traditional learning activities online. 

You can limit technology issues is various ways.  First and foremost by purchasing a reliable product.   Be sure to test out your selection before making a commitment or get some help from people with experience.

 A lot of “technical difficulties” are actually human error.  Limit human error and help out those who might not be computer proficient by giving clear, concise instructions.   It might even be necessary to use screen shots to ensure effective communication.

 

I hope you enjoyed this article on web based training.  

 

 

 

request-consultation

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *