eLearning: advantages and disadvantages

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eLearning: advantages and disadvantages

Time and money savings, mass training, each day, e-learning attracts new companies for their professional training needs, thanks to persuasive arguments. This is illustrated by the market's turnover of 144 million euros in 2010, a 25% increase over the previous year (source: Féfaur). A considerable progression underpinning the success of remote training and predicting a great future for this learning method.

 

Though the e-learning system possesses many assets, it also has its limits. In particular, e-learning is faced with the reticence of certain companies and employees faced with an innovative and unfamiliar learning method. The following table lists the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning from the point of view of the 3 parties involved in e-learning: the learner, the company and the trainer.

 
 

From the learner's point of view

 
Advantages
- Learner actively involved in his/her e-learning
- Interactivity and attractiveness of e-learning content
- Flexibility and adaptability according to availability (time, location) 
- Training at own pace, independently of other learners 
- Self-assessment during and at end of course 
- Personal progress monitoring during e-learning course and appraisal of results obtained thanks to tracking 
 
Disadvantages 
- Command of computer tools, reticence in face of new technologies
- Autonomous self-management as no imposed training framework
- Management of motivation and involvement in e-learning, concentration effort
- No direct contacts with trainer (except in the case of blended learning)
 
 

From the company's point of view

 
Advantages
- "Mass" training (unlimited number of learners) 
- Savings relative to classroom-based training indirect costs (travel, accommodation, etc.) 
- Flexibility and adaptability according to learner availability (time, location)
- Customization and adjustment of training courses to predefined skills and teaching goals 
- Low logistical constraints (no room booking, employee travel, accommodation, etc.) 
- Precise course reporting and automated results analysis thanks to tracking 
- Durable and updatable teaching materials 
 
Disadvantages 
- Companies sometimes ill-informed and hesitant with respect to new technologies
- No control over motivation, involvement and course management by learners
- Investment in computer hardware and software 
- e-learning content occasionally difficult to design for training in highly specific fields (to be checked)
- Change management to implement within the training department
 
 

From the trainer's point of view

 
Advantages 
- Prerequisites for assessing learner levels 
- Training performed on interactive and attractive tools for both trainer and learners 
- Flexibility and adaptability according to availability (time, location) 
- Learner monitoring from the platform (tracking) 
 
Disadvantages
- No direct contacts with learner (except in the case of blended learning)
- Transformation of the "knowing" role into that of "conductor"
- Transition of predominantly oral to written communication
 
 

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Nachi Muthu
26 Jūlijs 2011

It understand the details of the pros and cons of elearning.  - Dr  NACHIMUTHU, INDIA