E-learning is convenient, cost-effective and helps businesses comply with legislation. But it has its challenges.
Disadvantages to e-learning.
There are several disadvantages to e-learning which companies such as //www.adempi.co.uk/elearning continually strive to overcome. These include putting learning into practice, a lack of human interaction, an inability to apply e-learning to all sectors, technological difficulties and insufficient quality assurance.
Putting learning into practice.
Students who struggle to align their learning with their working environment and processes can find it challenging to apply best practices. To be effective, e-learning must be tailored to the student’s working environment and the rules they abide by.
Lack of human interaction.
E-learning typically lacks the ability to ask questions, meaning that students feel there is no opportunity for 2-way dialogue. A blended approach can overcome this, mixing theoretical and hands-on learning.
E-learning is not applicable to all sectors.
E-learning is most applicable to theoretical fields of study rather than those requiring hands-on input. For example, quality assurance and compliance elearning tends to deliver favourable results while medical science requires practical in-person study.
Technological difficulties.
Though 95% of Britain’s population have access to technology, there are still many who don’t, meaning they cannot partake in e-learning.
Others lack the knowledge to use it effectively, so businesses must offer alternative solutions where necessary.
Insufficient quality assurance.
Not all e-learning is equal and many online learning providers are not accredited, meaning that there is little assurance that their training will deliver the desired outcomes. Therefore, businesses must select an appropriately experienced and accredited training provider.