The Case for E-Learning

Overview

A New Approach to an Old ProblemA Cost AnalysisOther FactorsCommon Myths and Misunderstandings

Part 1:A New Approach to an Old Problem

Why Online Learning?

• No classroom required• No expensive classroom equipment

to purchase or support• No travel required - Accessible

anywhere (w/ internet access)• Ease of deployment• Effective• Fast• Affordable

Self-paced online training available 24/7 from any PC with web access

Course content delivered by a central server

Asynchronous

AKA Online Live Instructor-led

Real-time live interactive classes hosted online by an instructor using a web-conferencing application (Web-Ex, NetMeeting, etc.)

Synchronous

Asynchronous Online Learning

Timely – Available on-demand 24/7No instructor requiredHigh efficiency*ConsistentOutstanding velocity*Easily controlled and monitoredPromotes professional disciplineAccommodates any learning paceIncreased retention

Asynchronous Online Learning

Increased information technology competency – Student must actively use their computers

Easily updated

× Interaction with instructor and other students is generally delayed (e-mail, forums, etc.)

Synchronous Online Learning

Good velocity* Live community interaction and collaboration

× Bound to class schedules× Instructor required× Inefficient*× Not sensitive to different learning paces× Compromised retention× Consistency is reduced

Synchronous Online Learning

× Student computer use is more passive than with asynchronous

× Updating can mean having to hold more classes

Part 2:A Cost Analysis

Traditional Instructor-Led Vs. Asynchronous Online

Development Cost

33 Hours @ $75/hr

$2475

100 Hours @ $75/hr

$7500Cost Impact

None

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

1:3Cost Impact

None

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Instructor Cost

$Hourly Rate+

$Daily Rate

N/A

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

1/hr @ hourly rate N/A

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Pre/Post-Class Activity Cost

$20/student

$280/14 students

N/A

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Material Cost

Wide Variations N/A

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Instructor Travel Cost

Length of class

+

30 min.

½ length of class

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Learner Opportunity Cost

Wide Variations N/A

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Cost ImpactNone

Minimal

Meaningful

Significant

Learner Travel Cost

• Cost of development is the only area where online asynchronous learning exceeds the related cost for traditional instructor-led training

• Overall savings captured from online learning generally makes online learning far less expensive than traditional instructor-led training

Cost Conclusions

Part 3:Other Factors

Supporting Asynchronous Online Learning

• No classroom required• Students can take courses at their desks or

at home using computers they already have

Physical Classroom

• Allows total work schedule flexibility – Available 24/7

• Learning can be done in off-peak times for minimal work disruption

• No need to have groups of employees away from their primary jobs

Work Schedule Management

Learner Pace

Students learn at their own pace = increased retention

Content can be revisited as often as needed to foster effective learning transfer

• No need to pay overtime for coverage of employees away from the workplace for traditional instructor-led training

Overtime Management

Efficiency

Students have the flexibility to focus on only the content most important to them and skip irrelevant content

One hour of asynchronous online learning can provide students with more useful information than several hours of traditional classroom training

Reported 2:1 time advantage

100% efficient

Velocity

Traditional classroom training requires successive delivery of multiple classes with few students each – Bottleneck –

Online asynchronous training can be delivered to hundreds of people simultaneously – Bottleneck relief -

• Timeliness = Relevance to the task at hand• Traditional = Just-in-case• Online = Just-in-time• Training can be done any time convenient

to the student

Timeliness

• Ability to deliver the same message with every class – Not possible with traditional instructor-led training

Consistency

• Content is delivered from a central server making is easy to update

• New material can be added, old material can be updated, and mistakes can be corrected

• Traditional training materials become rapidly dated, obsolete, and prone to errors and mistakes

Ease of Updating

Part 4:Common Myths and Misunderstandings

• Online asynchronous learning can simulate real-world hands-on activities to prepare learners for the real-world application

• Simulations must be followed by real world opportunity to apply learning

• Immediate real-world application replaces labs and classrooms - More effective than traditional classroom–

• Learn some. Do some. Repeat.

No “Hands-On”

• Online asynchronous learning allows students to learn at the most effective pace for their learning style

• Increased retention

Retention Issues

• Most online asynchronous learning solutions have reporting and monitoring capabilities

• Important student activity is tracked and measured

No “Visibility” or Oversight

• Online asynchronous learning promotes self-discipline

• Supervisors have “visibility” to student progress

Learner Discipline Issues

Summary

• A New Approach to an Old Problem• A Cost Analysis• Other Factors• Common Myths and Misunderstandings