It is interesting to see how online Learning is getting on given the downturn in the world economy. There are a number of people who have asked EazySafe how their business is going in these tough times. And I have to say that “I think it is improving”. But the question is WHY?
I think it comes down to the benefits of eLearning. The normal reply is that “it’s cheaper” or “we can get at it when we like”, namely cost and flexibility.
But what exactly does that mean?
Well to quote a recent acedemic paper:
1. It saves time without decaying learning benefits;
2. It minimizes travel costs;
3. It minimizes time away from work;
4. It is more cost effective;
5. It can meet the needs of a geographically disperse employees;
6. It provides consistent course delivery;
7. It can offer more individualized instruction;
8. It can achieve consistently higher learning results over traditional training.
I would not go so far as to include #8 I would make it “higher learning results over traditional training alone”.
And the phrase “more cost effective” depends on what you do and how you use it. See my discussion of “Blended Programmes“.
In health & safety the consistency of the EHS message is very important.
You need to be sure that every employee gets the same story.
The ASTD (one of the foremost organisations in corporate training) has evaluated the effect of the economica downturn on the industry and have found it to be quite robust.
The phrase that explains it the best is “our best to support the workforce to learn it on their own with minimal guidance and support”.
Because if you have to cut back, you cut back where the cost is highest or where there is low impact.
But Online Health and Safety is low cost with high impact, so where budgets are reduced eLearning prevails.
And I think this is why Online Heath and safety training will weather this ressession.
References:
1. http://eli.elc.edu.sa/2009/content/Duncan%5Bresearch%5D.pdf
2. http://www.astd.org/LC/news.htm