Food Safety News – July 2010
Online training: relevant or not?
Only ten years ago people were predicting that by now, computer-based training would have made the classroom a thing of the past. But this has not happened? Is computer-based and online training relevant or not?
Despite these predictions, on-line training or elearning as it is often known, has made a slow start. This is due to a number of reasons: - lack of computer availability, poor software for developing training and slow internet speeds but also a general lack of trust in the product. Most corporate experiences until now have been of instruction based training which is both irrelevant and dull.
Firstly, computers will never eliminate the human trainer. People need that human touch. We cannot rely solely on machines to tell us what to do and how to do it; but elearning has some distinct advantages:-
- Elearning is great where you have a dispersed audience, for example, a restaurant chain with 7 staff in each of 200 restaurants around the country. Only one or two at time need training. Any training has to fit in with work patterns. Each individual has their own pace. Elearning can overcome this and make tremendous saving on travel, lecture costs, printing etc.
- Elearning can be self-paced enabling brighter students to get through it quicker whilst others can revise at will.
- Cost is seen as the main benefit of elearning but time can also be an important consideration. Estimates give a 40-60% time saving through elearning
- Some studies suggest 25% better retention rates over conventional training
- Elearning definitely has consistent delivery – think of the different styles and content from trainers you know!
There is however a number of issues you do need to consider when considering taking up elearning:
- Some elearning requires upfront payment, this can be difficult to justify with an unused course
- Technology issues is your IT system compatible, will your techies have security concerns?
- Is the content relevant? Is it interesting? Will it work with your company culture?
For the elearner there are also issues to consider:
- What percentage of learners are likely to be technophobes? How will you help them?
- Do all sites have computers in the right place? Can learners get convenient access?
- Will learners lose out by the lack of discussion? For example staff from different sites meeting up can exchange good ideas and other company information.
- How easy is it for staff to flick through a course without learning?
Do the benefits outweigh the limitations?
The main thing to remember is that elearning is NOT a universal panacea. You have to look carefully, plan carefully and be totally realistic of its use, limitations and the requirements for implementation. However to ignore elearning would be a mistake! There will be plenty who take it up and could gain a quick and easy commercial advantage.
We offer bespoke elearning solutions deigned and implemented by our in-house team of learning designers, trainers and safety experts. We can offer a unique elearning experience tailored to your specific needs.
For further information please contact Dr. Lisa Ackerley at lisa@hygieneauditsystems.com
