Fast Facts About E-Learning

Posted on 03 November 2020 go back

Of all teaching strategies, e-learning has been the most popular. Amongst many younger students, it is the more preferred method of learning compared to traditional education. Even those who are not accustomed to innovative means of training are slowly embracing e-learning.

Do you know that e-learning is one of the fastest-growing modern industries? It is developing at rates that make it even more profitable by the day. Since the term e-learning was coined in 1999, the world continues to benefit from its versatility, flexibility, and convenience.

Let’s have a look at some interesting facts about e-learning that make it a fascinating science of its own:

The e-learning industry has grown to 900% since 2000.

That’s a whopping figure! Compared to traditional learning, you save a lot with e-learning. You need not spend on unnecessary resources required by brick-and-mortar schools such as transportation and paper. Less expenditure means more revenue.

Corporate training is another facet. More and more companies are making the switch to e-learning. It may be costly depending on the complexity of the training content, but it is actually a wise investment in the long run. Companies who do offer e-learning generate 26% more revenue for every employee.

In turn, the high demand for e-learning is urging investors and vendors to provide choices for those who would like to create their own e-learning programs. LMS (learning management system) providers make it possible for schools, organizations, companies, and individuals to offer e-learning for academic or corporate purposes.

Over 50% of all people use e-learning when they wake up.

What’s usually the first thing you do when you wake up? Most people pick up their phone, check their e-mail, browse their social media feeds, and connect with people.

Contrary to popular belief, e-learning is not just about learning in front of a computer or any fancy equipment. One form of e-learning is mobile learning (or m-learning), which means learning on-the-go.

According to Growth Engineering, a mobile device user increases his productivity to 43% more compared to a non-mobile device user. Why not? Working students, parents, or users with other commitments would actually prefer this kind of e-learning over the traditional classroom set-up, especially since the latter requires very structured schedules.

Further, smartphones and tablets are very good media for learning. Virtually all answers can be found on the Internet. Information is accessible at any time and place.

How do you say “thank you” in German? What’s the fastest way to the nearest train station? When is the next public holiday? What’s an easy recipe for apple pie? The answers to these questions can be found seconds after you enter your query in the search engine.

And before going to bed, most people will be on their smartphone again for various reasons: to learn, communicate, or connect—almost like a nighttime ritual.

Mobile learning is so useful and in-demand that experts predict that by 2020, the mobile learning industry will be worth over $37 billion.

Fortune 500 companies use e-learning for corporate training.

It’s no secret—big-time corporations have been using e-learning to train their employees. Since they have a name and reputation to maintain, the need for continuing professional development for their employees is not something they should neglect.

Shell, the global oil and gas giant, has an annual revenue of over $306 billion. Operating in more than 70 countries and managing 92,000 employees worldwide, ensuring the quality of their products and services, as well as training their employees, is paramount.

So how do they do it?

They created the Shell Open University, an online training program that provides practical, technical, and commercial learning tools. Through this portal, Shell employees enjoy unlimited access to a wide range of courses, guides, videos, e-books, and other learning materials. In turn, employees become more knowledgeable and feel more empowered to work, hence increasing productivity.

E-learning reduces the time required for training to about 60% and is considered a very valuable training strategy by most corporations.

E-learning is more environment-friendly.

2019 is an eye-opener for environmental awareness. Over the past years, a lot of disastrous natural catastrophes have occurred, resulting in large-scale damage to life and property.

Traditional schools demand a lot of resources directly and indirectly: space, rent, electricity, water, paper, money, gas, and many more.

Trees have to be cut down to build a new structure. Manpower is required for the upkeep of the entire place. Electricity is generated for several hours on end. Water is consumed for every teacher, student, and staff. Trash is produced for every teacher, student, and staff.

Hundreds of paper are consumed and wasted every day. Plastic goes to trash—and eventually the oceans. Gas is consumed for traveling to and from the learning institution.

And the list goes on.

While e-learning does demand resources, the operational requirements are not as extensive.

Basically, you will need a computer or laptop, an Internet connection, and electricity. Other equipment or tools may be required depending on the course. Going paperless is perhaps the best benefit of e-learning. This alone reduces the carbon footprint quite significantly.

You don’t have to be an expert to try e-learning.

Those who are unfamiliar with how e-learning works may think that this approach only works for the younger population, ‘millennials’, IT experts, or technology-savvy individuals. This is perhaps the most common misconception about who can use e-learning.

False.

Anyone can try e-learning! Although the older population and people with disabilities may find it a challenge, it certainly is not impossible for them. A flexible LMS makes it possible for users with special needs to take part in e-learning.

Ideally, the course provider must make sure that the LMS must be easy to use by students who may perceive it as intimidating to use. Though there may be some degree of a learning curve, with the right guidance and feedback, e-learning makes a great training strategy.