The Advantages and Disadvantages of E-learning

Earlier, if you did not have time to visit a University and attend the usual classes or training programs then it could be a cause of concern. However, things have changed now, and with so many e-learning tools available you can opt for any course and sit and learn from the comfort of your own home. E-learning, electronic learning or online learning offers you the chance to select your desired institution from any part of the world, select any course you prefer, and also select the hours when you will study, thus making things a lot easier for one and all. It is widely being used for business purposes to train the employees of companies located worldwide. But, just like anything else this way of training too has its share of pros and cons. So, without any wait, let us get to discover the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning.

7 Advantages of E-learning:

1. Full Flexibility

Unlike a traditional school or training institute which has its set training schedules that students or trainees have to follow (wherein you may even need to dedicate a full day), e-learning offers you flexibility by either dividing the course into short chunks that can fit into your everyday schedule, or letting you select the time when you want to study altogether. So, you can complete the course easily, and it will not affect your work schedule at all.

2. Study Where You Want to

Since e-learning uses a video conferencing software like ezTalks to train you, you need not visit any classroom, and instead, can complete your training not only using your PC but also laptops, smartphone or tablets. This allows you to complete your training even on the go. Since you can study while traveling, you will be able to make the most of even your travel time.

3. Save Traveling Cost

As e-learning does not need you to visit any institute, you will not have to bear the travel costs or so to say the conveyance costs to and from the institute. Many a time, schools or training centers can be located in remote areas and to travel to such distances you will have to bear a lot of expenses, and a lot of time will be wasted, which thankfully e-learning helps you save.

4. Does Not Follow the One for All Methods

In traditional training schools, there is a particular curriculum or training material that is meant for all, and everyone needs to follow it and complete it within the scheduled time. However, e-learning does not follow this one for all method. If you feel you are aware of one particular area and you need no training on that, you can skip and concentrate on areas that you think are more important.

5. Less Expensive

As no room or trainer's time is used, e-learning proves to be a far cheaper option. If you already own a device using which the training can be done then you will be saving even more. So, for companies that are on a tight budget, e-learning can prove to be immensely beneficial.

6. Global Benefit

With hardly any restriction, companies can be sure that their staff all over the world will receive the exact content. So, if you want your staff to use and understand the common methodology and get the same training then e-learning is the most cost-effective and easiest way to do so. Furthermore, you can customize and translate your online teaching or learning into various languages and use it to address various cultures and this will help make your e-learning content travel all over the world and reach a wider audience. So, your globally distributed workforce will get the training material, and all your employees will always stay aligned with the vision, value, and brand of your company.

7. Constantly Updated

Today's e-learning is better than that of yesterday and tomorrow's will be better than today's. With the constant improvement in technology, so many tools and application are being available that together with updating online learning it will also help make it more effective. As soon as you update your online course, your e-learners too will enjoy the updated version by just clicking their mouse button.

4 Disadvantages of E-learning:

1. Less Control

Those employees who are less motivated may lag behind as there is no fixed time for them to complete the training. The lack of any fixed schedule and routine may make the employees procrastinate and then they will find it difficult to complete the training successfully.

2. The Learning Style May Not Suit All

This process of online learning may not seem attractive to all. Since everyone is not the same so is their ability to grasp. While some can find the method of e-learning easy, for others understanding things through this method can seem difficult. They may find the environment of a usual training center, with a trainer present all the time, easier and more effective.

3. Lack of Immediate Response

When in a traditional training center, trainees can ask their trainers lots of questions and get immediate answers. However, in the case of e-learning, the trainers usually work within their working hours, and those trainees who learn out of these working hours may not be able to get an immediate response to their questions, and this may de-motivate them.

4. Lack of Computer Competency

The gadget-friendly people certainly will find e-learning immensely beneficial but there are a few who might not be comfortable using computers, particularly if their job so long has not required them to do so. In such cases, even if the software is immensely user-friendly, the idea of using the software may seem to be very difficult. However, this problem can be tackled by giving such employees a quick training on how to use the computers first.

E-learning may have a few drawbacks but these drawbacks can easily be handled. Moreover, just because of a few disadvantages, the many benefits online learning offers certainly cannot be overlooked. Just a little training and just a little guidance can anyway help to minimize the already few disadvantages, easily. Furthermore, with technology becoming more and more advance and with companies spreading worldwide, e-learning, in fact, will soon become the only method of training used by all companies.