March 28, 1:14 pm
Save big money with e-learning, IF you use it the right way. Here’s how:
Monday’s Wall Street Journal has an article about online learning that caught my eye. Essentially, more companies are realizing the benefits as well as the limitations that online learning provides.
The findings reported in this piece represent what I normally see around the country, but I especially like their example of online learning limitations: “You can’t learn to climb a telephone pole online.” Duh!!
Many of the mistaken ideas and illusions (or should it be “delusions”) about online learning stem from a lack of understanding about how people learn. One of the more common false beliefs is that you can simply tell someone about a subject and then say that they’ve learned it. On the shop floor, this often takes the form of “I showed him how to do it, how come he can’t remember?” This same false belief has carried over into e-learning, too.
Recalling rote knowledge about a subject or even demonstrating understanding about a product does not mean you’ve learned how to apply this understanding. Each of these is a distinctly different level of cognitive learning.
Levels of Learning
The first three levels of cognitive learning are (1) rote recall of data, (2) understanding / comprehension, and (3) application. The key to this system is we can’t expect people to be proficient at any of the levels until they’ve successfully learned the level that precedes it.
In other words, we can’t expect people to understand concepts until they can define the terms used in the concept. (Level one learning must occur before level two). And we can’t expect people to apply what they know until they know the terminology and understand how and why it works. (Level one and level two learning must occur before level three can be taught).
And here is where e-learning shines: Teaching at levels one and two.
Huge Cost Savings
One Director of Training I know tells me that it costs his company $100 per hour of seat time per person for classroom training, but only $30 per hour per person for e-learning.
When we consider that much level one and level two learning can occur via e-learning modules, we can save a lot of money! 
Granted, we can’t get people to the top of a telephone pole via e-learning. But we can use it to make sure people know the proper terminology and the safety issues involved before they get their boots on and get ready to climb.
Filed in Work, Business, Opinion, Training, Management, Leadership, Team Building
Very good points regarding the levels of learning, but don’t forget learning styles. Adult learners will fall somewhere between being sequential (linear) or random & exploratory (non-linear) in their educational endeavors. E-learning can accommodate this if it is designed correctly and if the content allows for it.
With the Baby Boom generation now retiring from the workforce, younger workers who grew up in a wired world are going to expect more out of their workforce training. It’s going to need a web feel to it incorporating elements of social networking (blogs, forums, live chats, live streaming video, interaction, MySpace-like features, etc.) and collaboration.
For this new generation entering the workforce, level one electronic page-turners that are disguised as e-learning just won’t cut it.