Imagine it’s 2018, and you want to train your employees with IT skills such as Cloud Technology, Cybersecurity, and more. And when asked to choose between online and classroom training courses, which would you choose? Most probably, the latter. However, if the same scenario came up in 2022, you would, without a doubt, choose the former. Why? Because the classroom course would mean unnecessary expenses on food, travel, accommodation, and much more!
The pandemic compelled us to reinvent our learning strategies and thus accelerated the adoption of digital learning. The advantages of digital learning go much beyond just monetary benefits. Offering incredible independence, flexibility, and customizability, digital learning has come to be at par with in-person training and, in some respects, even better.
If you are sitting on the fence, trying to decide if digital learning is for you, here are some solid reasons to help you make an informed choice.
Benefits of Digital Learning
1. Overcome Geographical Barriers
Learning was confined to classrooms or other comparable settings until the early 2000s and was highly dependent on the physical presence of instructors. There was no way for a person in India to learn from teachers in the US. However, digital learning helps overcome such geographical barriers to make learning truly universal. All you need today is a laptop and an internet connection, and you’re ready to learn from any part of the world, sitting in any part of the world!
2. Provides room for Innovation
Unlike the pen-and-paper mode of learning, digital learning allows course designers to explore various learning tactics to make learning more effective and interactive. For example, techniques like gamification, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence, have made learning several times more effective than before. By allowing information to be delivered in short, digestible pieces, digital learning resources increase information retention rates significantly. Not only that, but the use of diverse technologies through digital learning makes the learning experience more interactive and relatable for an individual user.
3. Cost-effective
Cognizant says that online learning allows companies to save 70% or more costs compared to the traditional training mode. By avoiding unnecessary expenses like transportation, food, classroom maintenance, rent, printed material, and more, organizations stand to gain a great deal.
Furthermore, to attend classroom training programs, employees must leave their workplaces, which may result in a loss of business productivity in long-term courses, not to mention the time wasted in travelling. On the other hand, digital learning enables employees to attend classes right from their desks, saving a great deal of time, money, and hassle.
4. Flexible and self-paced
Today’s work culture acknowledges an individual’s need to balance job and family commitments. Every company employee, from managers to assistants, from the CEO to specialists, must have equitable access to essential learning resources tailored to their individual needs if the organization is to achieve a collective uptake in learning. Online courses allow you the flexibility to learn at your own pace and place! With digital training, employees have the freedom to study at their own pace on topics that are pertinent to their jobs.
Many people like to learn while on the go, whether reading an eBook during their daily commute or listening to an audio file while working out. By offering downloadable, mobile-friendly content, digital learning capitalizes on learning at the moment of need.
5. Standardized, high-quality course content
The digital model of learning ensures that students are exposed to the most recent resources by adding and updating them periodically. This upholds quality with frequently updated and newly added content that will pique employees’ interests far more than recycled knowledge they have already ingested.
6. Increased engagement through personalization
Just like entertainment platforms, digital learning resources also use data-driven algorithms to suggest topics and content that students may enjoy based on their prior searches.
Recommended learning increases user engagement and relieves learning specialists of the guesswork. Users exposed to recommended content are more likely to consume information pertinent to them and take advantage of the chance for further learning. Moreover, on digital learning platforms, teachers have a greater degree of coverage to deliver their message to students consistently, ensuring that every learner receives the same kind of instruction.
Conclusion
As companies step up to the challenge of digital transformation, education and training must also adapt to the changing nature of the workplace. However, some companies still hesitate to implement digital learning as they worry about stretching their budgets for an online training program. But the truth is that digital learning is much more profitable than face-to-face learning in the long run. It is only the initial setup cost that scares firms.
Thinking twice before investing in an intensive digital learning program is natural. That’s why it is important to have a trusted partner to design and execute the program. Mastech Digital helps clients address business challenges through customized digital learning support, from strategy to execution and analysis. Get in touch with the experts today.
