Title: The Advantages and Disadvantages of E-learning
1Earlier, if you did not have time to visit a
University and attend the usual classes
or training programs then it could be a cause of
concern. However, things have changed now, and
with so many e-learning tools available you can
opt for any course and sit and learn from the
comfort of your own home. E-learning, electronic
learning or online learning offers you the
chance to select your desired institution from
any part of the world, select any course you
prefer, and also select the hours when you will
study, thus making things a lot easier for one
and all. It is widely being used for business
purposes to train the employees of companies
located worldwide. But, just like anything else
this way of training too has its share of pros
and cons. So, without any wait, let us get to
discover the advantages and disadvantages of
e-learning.
7 Advantages of E-learning
- Full Flexibility
- Unlike a traditional school or training institute
which has its set training schedules that
students or trainees have to follow (wherein you
may even need to dedicate a full day), e-
learning offers you flexibility by either
dividing the course into short chunks that can
fit into your everyday schedule, or letting you
select the time when you want to study
altogether. So, you can complete the course
easily, and it will not affect your work
schedule at all. - Study Where You Want to
- Since e-learning uses a video conferencing
software like ezTalks to train you, you need not
visit any classroom, and instead, can complete
your training not only using your PC but also
laptops, smartphone or tablets. This allows you
to complete your training even
2- on the go. Since you can study while traveling,
you will be able to make the most of even - your travel time.
- Save Traveling Cost
- As e-learning does not need you to visit any
institute, you will not have to bear the travel
costs or so to say the conveyance costs to and
from the institute. Many a time, schools or
training centers can be located in remote areas
and to travel to such distances you will have to
bear a lot of expenses, and a lot of time will be
wasted, which thankfully e- learning helps you
save. - Does Not Follow the One for All Methods
- In traditional training schools, there is a
particular curriculum or training material that
is meant for all, and everyone needs to follow
it and complete it within the scheduled time.
However, e-learning does not follow this one for
all method. If you feel you are aware of one
particular area and you need no training on that,
you can skip and concentrate on areas that you
think are more important. - Less Expensive
- As no room or trainer's time is used, e-learning
proves to be a far cheaper option. If you
already own a device using which the training can
be done then you will be saving even more. So,
for companies that are on a tight budget,
e-learning can prove to be immensely beneficial. - Global Benefit
- With hardly any restriction, companies can be
sure that their staff all over the world will
receive the exact content. So, if you want your
staff to use and understand the common
methodology and get the same training then
e-learning is the most cost-effective and
easiest way to do so. Furthermore, you can
customize and translate your online teaching or
learning into various languages and use it to
address various cultures and this will help make
your e-learning content travel all over the world
and reach a wider audience. So, your globally
distributed workforce will get the training
material, and all your employees will always
stay aligned with the vision, value, and brand of
your company. - Constantly Updated
3Today's e-learning is better than that of
yesterday and tomorrow's will be better
than today's. With the constant improvement in
technology, so many tools and application are
being available that together with updating
online learning it will also help make it
more effective. As soon as you update your online
course, your e-learners too will enjoy the
updated version by just clicking their mouse
button.
4 Disadvantages of E-learning
- Less Control
- Those employees who are less motivated may lag
behind as there is no fixed time for them to
complete the training. The lack of any fixed
schedule and routine may make the employees
procrastinate and then they will find it
difficult to complete the training successfully. - The Learning Style May Not Suit All
- This process of online learning may not seem
attractive to all. Since everyone is not the
same so is their ability to grasp. While some can
find the method of e-learning easy, for others
understanding things through this method can seem
difficult. They may find the environment of a
usual training center, with a trainer present all
the time, easier and more effective. - Lack of Immediate Response
- When in a traditional training center, trainees
can ask their trainers lots of questions and get
immediate answers. However, in the case of
e-learning, the trainers usually work within
their working hours, and those trainees who learn
out of these working hours may not be able to
get an immediate response to their questions, and
this may de-motivate them. - Lack of Computer Competency
- The gadget-friendly people certainly will find
e-learning immensely beneficial but there are a
few who might not be comfortable using computers,
particularly if their job so long has not
required them to do so. In such cases, even if
the software is immensely user- friendly, the
idea of using the software may seem to be very
difficult. However, this problem can be tackled
by giving such employees a quick training on how
to use the computers first.
4E-learning may have a few drawbacks but these
drawbacks can easily be handled. Moreover, just
because of a few disadvantages, the many benefits
online learning offers certainly cannot be
overlooked. Just a little training and just a
little guidance can anyway help to minimize the
already few disadvantages, easily. Furthermore,
with technology becoming more and more advance
and with companies spreading worldwide,
e-learning, in fact, will soon become the only
method of training used by all companies. https/
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tages-of-e-learning.html