It might sound like something you’d order on pay-per-view, but the ROI deathmatch doesn’t have anything to do with heavyweight champions or a heavy gold belt. Instead, it’s a way to measure the efficiency of eLearning solutions when compared to more traditional training methods. While both are designed to convey information and concepts to the learner, it’s the delivery that sets each method apart in the ring. By seeing how traditional training stacks up against eLearning, you can decide which delivery method is right for your organization – and which is the clear champion when it comes to ROI.
Consistency
Traditional training methods often require the same curriculum be taught over and over again. Unfortunately, unless the instructor is the same each time, there could be gaps in the consistency of the message. Whether it’s a different take on a sales tactic or glossing over an important point, inconsistency can leave your learners scratching their heads – or worse, missing the point completely. With eLearning solutions, you can better control the consistency of your message and the way it’s presented. This helps preserve the highest quality version of the material, which means time savings and better results.
Time Reduction
When you require employees to take a course, complete training or otherwise participate in learning, you’re using organization resources. After all, a sales team working their way through new concepts and material are in the classroom – not selling. That means traditional training could cost you more than just the initial investment for materials ad curriculum. eLearning, however, can save you time. A white paper by Syberworks found that eLearning resulted in a 40 percent reduction of learning time required. This means a 40-hour course could actually be completed in 25 hours, saving you time and giving you a better return on your initial investment.
Customization
Anyone who’s ever taught a training course can tell you all about that glazed look that some learners get when not properly stimulated. Whether the class moves too fast or it doesn’t go fast enough, you lose the participation and enthusiasm when you assume that each learner absorbs and processes information in the same way. Unfortunately, when in a traditional classroom setting, you may not have the time you need to slow down to cover new concepts or speed up to get past familiar material. Instead, using an eLearning platform that offers better pacing can help ensure learners actually follow and finish the course. Allowing users to test out of certain chapters or allowing a pause and review function means a more personalized experience for better results.
Tracking and Management
With on-board administrative tools at your fingertips, eLearning has a definitive advantage over traditional solutions. In a more traditional training session, you really have an idea how effectively your message is being received – some learners are motivated to learn while others doodle in their portfolios. When you have the administrative tools offered with most eLearning solutions, you score the benefit of being able to check progress, look up test scores and make sure everyone is on the same page. This also means identifying and addressing those learners who may be falling behind or lagging on their course work, helping you protect your investment.
With both traditional training and eLearning innovation in the ring, it’s clear which has the advantage. By exploring your options and incorporating eLearning as part of your training curriculum, you could enjoy a better ROI through time savings, material absorption and message consistency.
