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5 Ways eLearning Saves More Time than ILT

There are constant debates and questions on the format of training that is the best, whether it is ILT (Instructor-led Training) or eLearning. And the answer is, it depends. I can’t give you a conclusive answer; however, I can give you the benefits of choosing eLearning. Every format of training has its own pros and cons, and no training is a one-size-fits-all solution. But before we even talk about modalities, the need for training has to be established, which will help you choose the delivery format of the training. In this blog, I will talk about 5 ways eLearning can help you save more time than ILT.

1. Short Duration of Courses

At one point or the other, all of us have experienced lengthy classroom training sessions that didn’t seem to end. As eLearning courses are not time or place-bound, learners do not have to sit in one place to complete the courses. Also, with learners being quite caught up with work, spending a significant amount of time away from work is not so viable.

ELearning is a fantastic option as it gives learners the much needed flexibility, thereby boosting their performance. A few ways in which e-learning saves time:

  • With eLearning, learners get to learn at their own pace, rather than moving with the pace of the classroom. So quicker learners are not held back by the group.
  • With eLearning, there is no travel involved, to and from the training venue.
  • There is no scope for tangential discussions that sometimes derail classroom sessions.

2. Reusability of Content

At times, eLearning course developers have to develop content from scratch. However, quite often, they can reuse content from existing training material that can be repurposed to suit the needs of the current training. Repurposing saves a lot of time for organizations as they can roll out training programs quickly.

With rapid authoring tools that are available in the market, content repurposing has been made easy, thereby saving time and effort. That being said, you can’t use the content as is. It needs to be made ready for online delivery. You can repurpose content by developing interactive eLearning in the form of quizzes, simulations, scenarios, or games around “regular” content. For instance, if you have text-based content, you can team it up with animations, branching, and interactive elements to transform it into an immersive eLearning scenario.

3. Reinforcement and Performance Support

If someone were to ask you how the breakfast you had this morning was, you would instantly share your experience. At the same time, if they were to ask you about the dessert you tasted months ago, you may not even remember the dessert. Similarly, when it comes to learning, learners forget what was taught within a few days of learning.

There is a constant need to refresh what is being taught. There are certain portions of any training that are to be remembered at all times, in other words have to be internalized and applied. This is where performance support helps aid reinforcement. It:

  • Empowers learners: They enable learners to learn on their own, at the time of need.
  • Saves time: Instead of reading manuals or waiting for the instructor’s help, learners can quickly access the required information online.
  • Helps improve assimilation: This helps learners apply the skills on-the-job, as performance support tools are designed to meet a specific need.
  • Provides just-in-time updates: They help in disseminating new features or upgrades, or changes in the organization.

4. Real-Time Access

The problem with traditional classroom training programs or live learning events is that they require the participants to align their schedules according to the training calendar. However, this is not the case with eLearning, as learners can access courses anytime, anywhere, eliminating the need for strict schedules. This saves a lot of time as learners can work these courses around their schedules, thereby learning at their own pace. Also, with courses being available offline, learning has become easier to access.

In the traditional classroom, learners need to take down notes to get the needed information. Whereas, in eLearning, at the press of a button, learners can access the resources needed to refresh their memory.

5. Focus on ‘Need to Know’ Content

There are a lot of activities or content that are included in a classroom, that may not really add value to learning. The content could be “nice to know”; however, it may not necessarily be “need to know”. In an eLearning course, the core content can be restricted to what is absolutely necessary in the training context.

Learning objectives play a major role in ensuring the content is in line with the learning outcomes of the course. When learners are given what is necessary, a lot of time is saved. Also, when relevant content is presented to learners, the course is uncluttered, making it more appealing.

These ways mentioned in the blog show how eLearning can help you save time compared to ILT sessions. There are other ways and strategies that will help you save time and cost when it comes to implementing eLearning courses. Do share your thoughts on the strategies you implemented to optimize time utilization.

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