Finding time for learning while juggling our work and personal lives is tricky, so anything that makes this process easier is to be welcomed. An e-learning offering by leading universities is now standard, with a plethora of degrees, postgraduate diplomas and certificates testament to the success and desirability of the medium.

Free from the confines of stuffy classrooms, lecture theatres and corporate training rooms, the flexibility means learning materials can be accessed in comfortable surroundings, or other environments conducive to learning, by multiple people at different times and courses can usually be taken in bite-sized chunks at the individual’s own pace. This is important, compared with an inflexible learning process, where time pressures and variable attention spans mean they could be counter productive.

But, don’t think that this means e-learning happens in isolation. Collaboration is also easier online, engaging with fellow learners, course tutors or mentors via online forums, social media or a company social network not only makes learning less stressful, but more enjoyable. And the more we enjoy learning the more we will retain. In fact e-learning appears to be very effective, with the use of interactive activities and multimedia tools leading to higher retention levels.
Of course one of the other benefits is the flexibility of content, which is important in many fast paced professions and industries, fuelled by the latest technology or fresh research. Content can be readily updated to communicate new policies and procedures, company information or product training for example.

The format can also be tailored to suit the needs of employers and their employees and allow them to track the progress of their team, record their achievements and issue certificates of completion.
If you’re not yet convinced, then let’s talk money. E-learning can produce significant cost savings. Staff no longer have to take significant time away from their jobs in large groups (disrupting work), venues and facilitators don’t need to be booked and more effective training may result in increased productivity. In fact, when IBM switched to e-learning it saved a whopping $200 million in internal training costs.

And if you are considering using e-learning, you’ll need to think about how you distribute your content, as evidence shows that mobile content delivery increases employee uptake of content for e-learning.
Embedding e-learning in your corporate culture as apart of a continuous learning strategy for your workforce could make the delivery of education and training easier and more enjoyable for them and ultimately benefit your business.