Benefits of Elearning
1st November 2023
Article by Meg Shona Halpin-Webster, Graduate eLearning Content Writer at Marshall E-Learning Consultancy, a Ciphr company
eLearning and facilitated training are two of the most popular training formats used by organisations and education institutions. One format may suit one organisation more effectively than another, which is why understanding the benefits of eLearning and the benefits of facilitated training is advantageous for determining the best format for your learners. Marshalls is a leading provider of eLearning as well as an expert in facilitated training, so we’re well-placed to explore the benefits of each option and help you make the right decision for your people.
What are the benefits of eLearning?
1. Flexibility and accessibility
Flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of eLearning, setting itself apart from other popular training formats. With eLearning, learners can access training from any device, any time. They can also save their progress and continue or revisit materials later on. And there’s no need to coordinate diaries to find me a suitable training time for all learners – a problem that often arises with in-person training.
2. Suits different learning styles
Everyone has a different learning style – whether that’s visual, auditory, reading, or kinesthetic learning. eLearning can be adapted to suit different learning styles – and, what’s more, can be designed so that learners are empowered to choose the most suitable adaptation for their preferences. For example, for learners that prefer to read content, rather than watch a video, they can opt for video transcripts.
3. eLearning is engaging
eLearning courses have evolved to become more engaging and interactive than ever before. Many eLearning courses now feature rich graphics to keep learners stimulated and interactive screens to keep learners interest. In fact, a 2022 survey by Digits, a Ciphr company, found that ‘online courses’ were the second-most popular learning format, after ‘online videos’.
4. eLearning is cost-effective
eLearning is a budget-friendly training option – there’s no need to hire a physical space or an instructor, or pay for expensive travel. For a much lower cost, learners can still access high-quality information and develop their knowledge. Providing a cost-effective option for our clients is key to us, as recognised by Rich Crowley, Co-Director of Professional Development at the University of Nottingham: “Working with Marshall E-Learning is easy, straightforward and very cost-effective”.
What are the benefits of facilitated training?
1. Networking opportunities
Facilitated training typically involves grouping employees from an organisation, or multiple organisations, together. These environments are great networking opportunities for learners to meet and exchange their ideas and knowledge, strengthening professional relationships, and create a wider collaborative culture.
2. Facilitated training is more hands-on
There are typically greater opportunities for taking part in physical activities or practical demonstrations or applications of a skill or concept with facilitated training rather than eLearning. It gives them the chance to put their newly-acquired knowledge or skill into action.
3. More guidance is available
One of the key benefits of facilitated training is that there is a trained instructor present. Learners can rely on their instructor to guide them through the content, answer any questions they may have and help them develop their understanding. In most cases, the instructor is a subject-matter expert, making them an invaluable resource to boost learning.
4. Facilitated training is multifaceted
There are many different ways to deliver facilitated training, increasing its appeal. Traditionally, facilitated training involves giving a presentation or a lecture and gathering learners into seminar groups to discuss, but there are many available options to make this format more engaging. For example, facilitated training can revolve around group brainstorming sessions or activities, which gets the core content across in a more exciting way.
Diversity and Inclusion Leads from North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, Lesley Faux and Sherin Nassa, described Marshalls’ facilitated training offering as showing “great adaptability in accommodating our specific needs throughout by working closely with us in the design and development phases.”
Why not combine the benefits of eLearning and facilitated training?
Organisations can benefit from both eLearning and facilitated training, as they can be used together to develop employee knowledge. eLearning can be used as either an introduction or a follow-up to facilitated training, helping to consolidate understanding and demonstrate content takeaways.
Both eLearning and facilitated training are customisable formats, enabling an organisation to create a unique learning experience for their employees. You can make an eLearning course your own by adding in your own logo and photography, adapting the content to align with or feature your own policies and procedures. In a similar way, facilitated training can offer learners a personalised experience that is tailored to the organisation’s needs and preferences.
How to determine the best format for your organisation
When choosing between eLearning and facilitated training, you should consider which format is best-suited to your organisation. Here are some considerations for your organisation to think about:
- Outcomes and objectives: think about what you need the training for and what you want your employees to learn. Some topics are well-suited to the eLearning format, while others that are more complex may be better suited to delivery by a subject matter expert
- Budget: consider your organisation’s budget. eLearning is usually the more cost-effective format
- Employee preference: think about your learners and which format is best suited to them. For example, if you are a remote or hybrid organisation, eLearning is likely to be the preferred option for employees because they can complete the training at home
What Marshalls can offer
Marshalls has an extensive eLearning course library for organisations who want to help staff develop their skills and knowledge, and meet their compliance targets. We cover an extensive range of topics, with our most popular course being our diversity in the workplace eLearning. Our eLearning courses are available off-the-shelf, but we also offer course customisation options and the choice to partner with us to create bespoke eLearning content.
We also deliver facilitated training on a wide range of diversity and inclusion topics, including micro-behaviours, inclusive recruitment and allyship. All facilitated training can be tailored to your organisation’s needs to ensure relevancy and impact. We can also design and deliver webinars and workshops if you require something different.
For more information about our eLearning and facilitated training options, or to find out how Marshalls can help your organisation determine its training needs, please contact us.
