Online training is the art of knowledge transfer through the internet, from anywhere in the globe to targeted audiences who choose to learn a particular subject. Online training courses are of two kinds – free and paid versions. Professionals who excel in a particular field choose to teach and train students who are willing to take up online classes.
Notes in PDFs, Word documents, video tutorials, and assessments are given as a package with the training modules, thereby helping students learn faster and easier.
Also, some of the certifications and certificates that can be provided, to award candidates for their understanding capabilities, are highly valued by various organizations. Some companies offer training options before employees are made permanent in their jobs.
This training does not end before the job begins: It rather continues through online courses by brushing up concepts and new technologies. Here are a few advantages of online training that showcase how it helps improve an employee’s professional life:
1. Flexibility
Technology demands newer updates and faster systems all the time. This can only be achieved with constant training and learning. Working a 9-5 job and pursuing courses may seem tiring if you have to go to a training center before or after work. Sometimes going to the training center may rob your weekends and eat up your free time. Online training courses can be taken anytime, anywhere. The only requirement would be an internet connection. Making time during your coffee breaks at work, sitting on your couch and taking online courses instead of watching television, and listening to audio/video files while travelling to and from work are some of the ways online training courses can be taken up. This ensures flexibility in terms of time and effort.
2. Mobility
A place that has internet connection is a place to take advantage of. Online training and eLearning would require a traditional registration process, followed by a user log in page, but now, since browsers are available on phones, tablets, and laptops, online courses are not only restricted to desktops; courses are configured to all types of devices. Thinking of taking a course while travelling? eLearning is now in your pockets!
3. Easy On The Pockets
With all these physical copies of books, notes, and professors to handle courses, traditional software training courses demand a very high price for certifications and course completion. In comparison to this, eBooks and notes are permanently saved in your hard drive when it comes to online training. Certifications are provided online, in printable format, with course completion recognition that can be shared on job-posting websites, social media, and more. Reference videos, course materials, and examination scores are saved and can be viewed multiple times, with no limit. Online courses are extremely cost-effective and can be utilized efficiently.
4. Community
Meeting different people and joining forums does not stop at social media sites. People with same interests or with the same learning goals may join a community that interacts effectively exchanging questions, doubts, and ideas. Participating in such groups may offer a more detailed insight on where the course is leading to.
5. Online Support
Professional educators and eLearning customer support are always looking to help and motivate students. Online course trainers can be emailed and interacted with, when students have any questions, and chat support is almost always available on online learning portals.
6. Progress Report
Online assessments test the ability to understand topics without the pressure of taking an actual exam. Some assessments can also be retaken and reconsidered if students are not satisfied with their scores. Properly justified and marked, online assessments bring about a fair scoring system that helps online students evaluate their understanding of a given subject.
7. Easy Accessibility
In a fast moving world, almost everything is readily accessible. Downloadable online notes, online support, online interaction, training videos that can be replayed, and assessments/quizzes that can be taken anytime during the course help professionals learn better and faster. The easier courses are to be reached, the easier it is for professionals to reach their goals.
8. Information Retention
Online courses help trainees retain and remember information with attractive images, videos, legible fonts, movie clips, animated descriptions, and more. Real-life examples are also given to explain concepts better. Displaying information in well-crafted ways lead to better understanding of learning content more than taking notes with pen and paper. Face-to-face instructor-led training can force trainees to deviate from topics because of long lectures, where speech is the major mode of communication.
9. Constructive Criticism
Providing constructive criticism through quizzes offers trainees the ability to understand where they stand in terms of knowledge. Multiple choice and open-ended questions prepare students better for taking an exam. The automated corrections like “wrong answer” and “right answer” give trainees the opportunity to go back and correct themselves when wrong. This saves time and effort when compared to unit tests where the papers are sent to the professor for correcting errors and giving the final grade.
Final Word
Some people prefer face-to-face training, while others may prefer online training. According to the American Society for Training and Development, nearly one-third of all eLearning content and material is available and pursued online. Online training is no doubt a huge cost saver for organizations and individuals, as only certification courses come with a high price tag compared to free online courses. Utilizing the internet for improving your skills is the ultimate way to climb up the success ladder, as the best investment that you can make is investing in yourself.
