Learning online is different to learning in a classroom and this article discusses the relative benefits of learning online versus group discussion and more traditional methods of learning and training.

So what is learning online?

Anytime a person goes online, it can be argued that they are learning something. It might only be a trivial item like what their friends are doing on mandyfacebook or the time of the next train to London, but they are learning.

Taking that to the next level, ask yourself, as a manager, what do you want them to learn or how will the learning benefit your business or service.

Clearly finding out that Debbie is friends with Charlotte on Twitter is not very useful.

(Incidentally, how do you currently select people for classroom training, do you send everyone on the same course?... thought so)

Online learning allows learners to move at their own pace.

So no stopping to wait for slower learners to catch up or waiting while more able ones try to catch the trainer out...

Learning materials can be released daily, weekly or at any interval to suit you or your learners. You can specify that a learner must study and complete Module X before moving onto Module Y for example. You really can get that level of control..

Everything on a computer is logged - that can help you get close control of your business

Every time you (or any body) visits any webpage, they leave an virtual footprint. (When you shop online, have you ever wondered how stores can "remember" you?)

Taking that a stage further, if we can chose what websites(courses) our staff look at and what pages they look at (the answers they give to tests etc) this can give us very powerful information.

But won't this take away from my existing training?

No, it will give it another dimension. Imagine, if you were able to say

"Make sure you read that cases study"

and you could actually get proof of who has done so

real evidence for appraisal, disciplinary, health and safety & legal compliance etc etc all without you lifting a finger..

Do you need a special computer to learn online?

No, good online learning & training should be able to be viewed over an ordinary computer

Does online learning include sound & video?

Almost anything you can do in a classroom, you can replicate online.. Video, sound, pictures, anything

Will learning online replace classroom based activities?

We don't think so, but it can certainly be used as a valuable to for management. There are some things which are best learnt in the classroom. These include the so-called "soft skills" where discussion and debate are part of the learning process.

More technical skill areas and learning the theory of something can easily be transferred to online. (For instance, you aren't going learn how to present the evening news on TV by completing a presentation skills course- but you can learn the theoretical parts, relaxation techniques etc)