Five reasons why eLearning is the future!
Gone are the days where eLearning was a boring ordeal, which involved a death by PowerPoint presentation.
Today, with the advancements in technology, eLearning can be an engaging and immersive experience, which is constantly improving.
Here are the five most important reasons why you should choose eLearning, over classroom based alternatives:
- eLearning is tailored to the learner.
- Training fits with busy schedules.
- Controlled by the learner, to aid all learning styles.
- Reactive teacher support.
- Cost effective – saves you time and money!
If you’re still not convinced, read on…
eLearning is tailored to the learner
All of the eLearning provided by Techni-K is role-based.
“So what?!” you may say – as role-based training isn’t anything new.
Your business will already have a training matrix which is defined by role, so that internal procedures can be trained to the relevant members of staff.
But think about it – this role-based theory, has never been applied to compliance training before. Compliance training has always been provided by subject, irrespective of what the learner’s role is. For example, previously, if you want to train someone in internal auditing, you had to send everybody on the same course. Those that would be managing the internal audit programme, those that do system audits, and those that complete GMP inspections; all get taught the exactly the same curriculum, even though they all need to know different things. The same applies to HACCP training. You would send every member of your HACCP team, on the same training course. An engineer will be taught how to carry out a severity and likelihood hazard analysis, even though they’ll probably never get involved in it. But they wouldn’t be taught, the specifics of how to bring their engineering knowledge and experience to the team, to really add value.
When you think about this means that learners have to know which aspects of the training they don’t need to know about, as it’s not their responsibility. And, which aspects they must listen to, as it does apply to them. That’s a huge ask, when they’re learning a subject for the first time.
This is why, at Techni-k we don’t believe in teaching each topic using a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Instead, we use a role-based approach, where the training is designed specifically to meet the responsibilities of the learner. This means that, we provide a range of different internal auditing courses, one for each role involved; the person who manages the internal audit programme (the system manager), internal auditors who are going to be carrying out system audits, and also inspectors who are going to be doing GMP inspections.
Using eLearning to train in this way, means that:
- The learner appreciates that they’re responsible for implementing and managing, everything they’re being taught.
- They can related to the content of the course, as it’s relevant to their day-to-day role.
- The learning time can be reduced, as they’re not being taught aspects that don’t apply to them.
- The detail of the course can be finely tuned to the role, and include examples for that specific role.
- The result is that the learner is more engaged as the course makes sense to them, which allows them to absorb more information.
- The learner leaves the course with a clear understanding of their responsibilities, and what they need to do next to implement what they’ve learnt.
Using the role-based courses, we can develop a training programme for every member of your team. Providing training in eLearning format allows us to tailor the courses, on an individual basis. Something, that you’d never be able to do with classroom based training, as training one-to-one wouldn’t be commercially viable.
If you’d like us to develop a training programme for your team, please get in touch – info@techni-k.co.uk
Training that fits with busy schedules
Training is super important, but so is the day job. Trying to dedicate long periods of time to complete training courses, isn’t always realistic. Especially, when you have to coordinate a group of people, in order to fill a classroom and make it viable. This means that you’ve got multiple calendars, shift patterns, holidays, and sickness to consider, when trying to find a date and time to suit everyone.
Providing courses in eLearning format removes all of these issues, as it can be completed at any time.
Giving the learner ownership of their training, means that they can complete it, at a date and time to suit them, and in an environment that they feel comfortable with.
All they need is a computer (PC or laptop) which has sound. If they have a headset this is even better, as it means they can really submerse themselves in the training. If they wish, the learner can complete their training at their desk, or at home, so you don’t even have to worry about trying to book a room (which, let’s face it – are always in short supply!).
Everyone learns differently and eLearning allows the learner to learn in the best way for them. If they like the accountability of having a formal time set in their diary, to complete their training all in one go, – then they can do that. If they struggle to concentrate for long periods of time, then they can complete it in shorter bite-size chunks. Or, if they prefer the flexibility of being able to do 20 minutes here, and 20 minutes there – then that’s fine too.
And, if they’re one of those learners who need a classroom structure in order to get the training done – then don’t worry, we’ve got you covered too. We follow up with every purchase, to make sure that the training is completed – because we appreciate that even with the best intentions, you sometimes need a friendly nudge.
Controlled by the learner
Most people have a preference when it comes to learning, typically there are four main learning styles:
- Visually by seeing information
- Reading written information
- Auditorily by listening to information
- Kinaesthetic by doing what you’ve been taught
It’s important training is provided in as many of these formats as possible – to allow all types of learners to get the most out of it.
This can be achieved in both classroom-based courses, and eLearning. The benefit of eLearning is that you can tailor the style to the individual – here’s how…
Visually
Our eLearning courses are packed with images which are familiar to the learner, as they are relevant to what they do on a day-to-day basis. Where the product and process is specifically relevant to the course (such as food safety, HACCP or process control) the images have been adapted to suit.
Written
Learners who like to read are provided with a detailed lesson guide, which includes the transcript from the course. Courses also include a glossary, so that learners who love detail can look up words and phrases.
Auditory
Old fashioned eLearning used to death by PowerPoint, where the learner had to read pages and pages of text. All Techni-K eLearning is provided in auditory form – this means that the text is read to the learner. The learner is also able to control the speed of the audio, so if they can speed it up, or slow it down, depending on their knowledge and confidence in the subject.
Kinaesthetic
This type of learner loves to move. To enable them to understand something, they need to practice what they’ve learnt. For this reason, our eLearning courses are interspersed with games, activities and exercises.
Find out more about the Techni-K training dashboard here.
Teacher support
One of the key parts of the classroom based learning experience that can get lost – is the support that you get from the teacher.
That’s why at Techni-K we put a huge amount of effort into this aspect of the service that we provide.
We appreciate that every learner is different, so we provide different forms of support – so that the learner can choose the best option for them.
Instant chat
Learners can get instant help, using the chat function on the website. Chat comes through to us in the Techni-K office during normal working hours, so we can help with log in, training questions or support with exercises.
Individuals and businesses which purchase courses receive email support and follow up. We check in regularly, to make sure that you get the support and help that’s needed.
One-to-one support
Training is only the first part of being a Techni-K customer. Ongoing relationships and seeing our customers succeed is really important to us. That’s why we offer support not just during your training, but also while you put in into practice what you’ve learnt. Anthony Stoker from AB Produce completed our Product Defence course and during the following weeks, he put his threat and vulnerability plan together following the principles that he’d learnt. At each step in the process he emailed Kassy to check his progress, and they even reviewed his documentation together over a quick Teams call. As a result he breezed through his audit. We asked him – ‘How did you find the support, during and following your training?’ Anthony said “Excellent, I was very much appreciated of the support and will definitely use you guys again.”
Cost effective
A typical classroom one day course is approx. £350 per person.
The equivalent course in eLearning format is about £156 – which is a massive 55% saving.
Because our eLearning is role based, you also get a time saving as well. A one day course can typically be shortened by about half – to around 3.5 hours.
This means that a team of 6, can all complete courses which are tailored perfectly to their role, and complete their training in half the time and cost!