Businesses need a targeted approach to e-learning

Mon, 10 Jan 2011

Businesses need a targeted approach to e-learning

An e-learning industry panel has recommended that businesses take a more targeted approach to online learning.

In order to make the most of available technology, which can help people learn at work and at home, businesses need to be focused in their use of the technology to avoid confusion and mixed messages.

Jon Toothill, a panel member and the director of a firm that provides e-learning solutions, explained that there is a huge number of e-learning tools and apps available. However, these may not always be relevant to a company's employees.

"With regards to technology supporting learning, it is important to consider what people actually want to learn. At the moment there seems to be an app for everything, but how many get used and how much of the e-learning collateral out there is on subjects that people actually want to learn. This is what should drive us," he said.

Another expert talked about how company owners need to provide their staff with the information they need to access the most relevant, high quality e-learning solutions. Michael Wilkinson from i-education added, "It is about providing the right tools, whether it is using a mobile device, taking a video, audio diary or even a photograph."

learndirect’s marketing strategist, Gavin Hubbard said that e-learning no longer carries a stigma. He added that people taking many different levels of courses can benefit from the freedom that e-learning brings. Hubbard continued, "You can be sitting in a training room in an organisation and someone might be doing an entry level 3 basic skills or numeracy course and next to them can be someone doing a level 3 NVQ."

See how NVQs, through learndirect, combine work-based and online learning, to provide your staff with tailored qualifications based on their job.