A Guide to Distance Learning & e-Learning:
A Special Report commissioned by ITlearneasy
As communications allow us to become more global, companies and individuals are finding that there is less time to do things instead of more time!
Studying for IT Certifications is a prime example....
The IT industry is fast-moving, with constant innovations which touch almost every aspect of industry and commerce. This is why companies large and small increasingly choose Distance Learning and e-Learning (DLeL) to train their IT staff.
IT Professionals wishing to increase their knowledge and salary also use DLeL, and individuals entering the world of IT use it to ensure full training and control over their studies.
The requirement for on-demand training has increased as companies and individuals realise that they cannot afford the time or the intrinsic costs associated with taking traditional classroom training.
Combine the demand for high quality training with the constraints of time and location and you can see why old fashioned classroom-based training has become less feasible.
As a result, companies and individuals increasingly choose DLeL as the best and most economical method of studying.
So, why is DLeL more effective than classroom training? What unique features set it apart from traditional training methods - and why is it a better training option for you?
Distance Learning & e-Learning Provides Immediate Feedback
Distance Learning & e-Learning Provides Integration of Text, Graphics and Sound - Interactive and easy to use!
Distance Learning & e-Learning is Cost Effective
Distance Learning & e-Learning is an Effective Training Option for the Adult Population
Distance Learning & e-Learning is Self-paced, Flexible and Can be Customised
Distance Learning & e-Learning Never Needs a Break
Distance Learning & e-Learning Improves Job Performance
Distance Learning e-Learning Provides Immediate Feedback:
Immediate feedback allows you to monitor progress and adjust training accordingly. There is no waiting on test papers to be marked and/or posted causing delays to your studies.
This feature of DLeL Learning allows you to decide how much time you need to spend on a particular area, assuring that you spend enough time on areas of weakness and not to much time on areas of proficiency.
You can proceed immediately to the next Stage of your training or depending on your feedback, or go back over the previous Stage again. This ensures you know each Stage of your training thoroughly before moving to the next. ^top
Distance Learning e-Learning Provides Integration of Text, Graphics and Sound - Interactive and easy to use!
Our training employs powerful tools that make DLeL cost-effective, convenient and, most importantly, easy to use.
DLeL provides an effective training option because it appeals to multiple senses - seeing, hearing and doing. This ensures that it is much easier to follow than books alone.
The interactive nature of our training ensures you become involved in a meaningful way - not just trawlling through reams of facts and figures!
You can also learn at your own pace and not worry about making mistakes, as you can repeat tasks and tests as many times as you wish, and all in private.
According to the an article published by the Royer Centre for Learning and Academic Technologies at Penn State University, people remember 10 percent of what they read, 20 percent of what they hear, 30 percent of what they see and 50 percent of what they hear and see.
DLeL is effective for people with various learning styles, and receiving information through more than one sense increases the likelihood that you will be able to remember more of what you are taught. ^top
Distance Learning e-Learning is Cost Effective:
For companies, DLeL eliminates the cost of hiring professional instructors, renting teaching facilities and travel expenses that may come when training employees with traditional training methods.
There is also the hidden cost of losing key employees for days or weeks on end.
For individuals, taking time off work may not be an option. Using DLeL, there's no need to take time off or give up your job to attend intensive training during the day - or to visit classrooms in the evening.
You don't waste time and money traveling and you can study any time day or night ensuring your study time is used much more productively.
No other method of training provides you with a 24-hour per day trainer, 365 days of the year!
Using traditional classroom methods you would not have the trainer available after classroom hours, nor have the facilities available. ^top
Distance Learning e-Learning is an Effective Training Option for the Adult Population:
In some cases, adults who have been away from education for any length of time may feel threatened by the atmosphere of traditional classroom training.
With DLeL, you are in control of every aspect of your training. You are not judged by other people, you can go as fast or as slow as you need to ensure you understand what you are being taught allowing you to learn each subject thoroughly before moving on.
You can repeat units, sections and tests and even work through the entire training course as many times as you like to ensure optimum learning.
You can also take a break from your studies when "real life" interferes with your best laid plans to study!
This active involvement in your training allows you to control your studies better and provides you with increased learning opportunities and increased satisfaction. ^top
Distance Learning e-Learning is Self-paced, Flexible and Can be Customised:
As we mentioned in the previous section, you can work at your own pace using DLeL training.
You can also complete the training modules which match your specific needs for Certification, or to complete a current IT job using the training materials as a reference tool - as many IT Professionals do.
Courses can also be adapted and individualised following immediate feedback and results from testing.
You can adapt the training based on your results so that you build skills and confidence and progress at a pace which is convenient. ^top
Distance Learning e-Learning Never Needs a Break:
DLeL is a superior training option because it never needs a break, is always available 24/7, and is constantly updated in relation to industry changes, unlike other training methods.
It meets the need in today's workforce for continuous training and on-demand training.
It provides consistency of training in terms of the quality of information presented as the material and learning options are uniform throughout the training, whereas in classroom based training, quality is based on the individual teacher. ^top
Distance Learning e-Learning Improves Job Performance:
DLeL can help you successfully train for specific IT Certifications or for specific job tasks and performances.
Having 24/7 access to information and support will raise your learning and improve your job performance.
PC Computing Magazine points out in their study that training has become more available to companies since the introduction of DLeL.
The advantage to large organisations is that DLeL allows employees to either keep up to date or to learn new skills without sacrificing vital personnel in key positions.
As far back as 1992 a report conducted by Xerox, Federal Express and IBM compared DLeL to tradtional learning methods:
- Learning Curve: 60% faster
- Content Retention: 25 - 60% higher
- Learning Gains: 56% greater
- Consistency: 50 - 60% better
- Training Compression: up to 70% better
(Source Smith, PI, 1992)
With the reduced costs of hardware and software, and the increased use of communications, the cost of DLeL has reduced, allowing small companies to also take advantage of this innovative training.
Over the past few years DLeL training material which was only available to large organisations is now available to everyone with an Internet connection.
End.
Report Commissioned February 2006.
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