An international online learning industry group has claimed that the open access element of e-learning could still be used more effectively by companies.
David Guralnick, president of the International E-Learning Association, said: “A central positive element in online learning courses is the fact that they can be utilised for a variety of different purposes by various groups, offering anytime, anywhere access.
“E-learning can mean a lot of different things, and well-designed e-learning can provide effective education that allows learners to do things that they cannot do in a classroom environment.”
Providing a burst of education at a time that suits the learner is something that is still not fully appreciated or used by businesses, according to Mr Guralnick. However, his comments come as increasing numbers of professionals are utilising distance learning courses to train their customers, clients and employees.
The latest amendments to the UK Bribery Act, for instance, have now been incorporated into an online learning course produced by SkillSoft and Davenport Lyons solicitors designed to assist legal compliance learning for all affected businesses to help them avoid falling foul of the legislation.
Example of how e-learning can work in a professional environment
The use of e-learning to help facilitate electrician courses is gradually growing, but it has started from a low baseline, an expert has claimed. Britain’s Electrical Contractor’s Association (ECA) has commented on how the use of online electrical training can benefit the electrician’s trade and will continue to provide a range of options for the future tuition. Iain Macdonald, the ECA’s head of education and training, said: “It has advantages such as flexibility of time or place of study, consistency of delivery and the ability to potentially reduce the numbers required to make a course viable.”
His comments come following claims from the e-learning advocacy body LearningLight.com that electronic based education systems could radically alter the way in which many courses are taught, including the possibility that such concepts as the ‘Massive Open On-line Course’ could radically alter the purpose of teachers and educators.