The Value of Digital Learning
Digital learning allows us to use technology to empower and get the most out of learners. It's the driving force for training today - and using it allows you to grasp concepts much more quickly and easily, engage in learning more freely and share knowledge anytime. According to the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), 'three-quarters of organisations in the UK use learning technology and online learning as part of their overall business growth strategy’.
With this in mind, let's have a look at why digital learning is not just a technology of the future, but very much one of today.
- It's about communicating with a spread out audience
Many of us are now working in dispersed environments, but online learning deals with this positively by allowing us to take part in learning experiences when and where we can. It creates a more connected community and enables participants to work together - anywhere and anytime.
- It's just-in-time and never delayed
People are now looking for learning that's just-in-time. With face-to- face or classroom training, you might have to wait weeks or months to be able to go on a course. Online learning knocks these delays for six by allowing you to access video, online assessments and even interfaces through live classrooms. You can take part in training when you want to - at work, at home, or even on your commute to work, providing an incredibly flexible way of learning.
- It's about social collaboration
Online learning enables you to collaborate and learn alongside trainers and a larger group of learners with the same goals. You’re not limited to mixing with people only from your organisation but from further afield, even spread around the world. This opens you up to a much richer learning environment because you'll have a greater selection of participants, all sharing experiences that you can tap into and benefit from.
- It's about blended learning
Online learning doesn’t have to be limited to learning . Blended learning combines both online and traditional classroom methods, keeping you engaged using a variety of content types; you’ll never get bored and never lose interest. For example, training commenced online may follow through to workshops with colleagues and classroom-based training, away from the computer such as practical exercises and even field work, allowing you to get really hands-on!
- It's bite-sized content, not full-on learning
Online learning provides us with easily-consumed, bite-sized learning (known as micro-learning). This is a superb way of learning because it's short, sharp and packaged into small units that you can take away and learn from effectively. The units are small enough to fit in during your free time and fast moving so you feel like real progress is being made. In the time that you would normally spend browsing the news online, you can absorb a whole learning segment!
- It's user choice, not prescription
It's about your choice and no-one else prescribes for you. Online learning provides you with resources and empowers you so that you choose how to use it. To a degree, you can choose the way you complete your course, so it provides a flexible environment where you can have far more control over your learning. And when you are in the driving seat, the sky really is the limit.
- It's about scaling business and enterprise learning
Companies are looking for more efficient and cheaper ways to educate their extended enterprise; customers, sales channel partners or member communities, in order to drive revenue streams. Digital learning is now part of many business growth strategies and it’s something that’s growing year on year with organisations investing in learning platforms. According to findings by the E-learning Industry, the LMS industry is expected to be worth over $7 by 2018.*
These are just seven reasons why we believe online learning is invaluable today. But it would be too easy for you to get caught up with buzzwords like ‘social learning’ and ‘micro-learning’. It would help you if you began with a set of LMS requirements based on your organisation, enabling you to map out what you need before you start your search. This then allows you to focus on finding a digital learning platform partner that specializes in exactly the type of training you need, allowing you to achieve those business goals that have long been out of reach.
Our next step will be to take a look at these.
*Source: Software Advice