eLearning is the most suitable way to deliver knowledge in our modern times, defined by evolving technology.
The concept of eLearning refers to the delivery of knowledge and training programs by means of electronic resources, through electronic devices such as phones, computers, tablets, etc. The history of eLearning is broad, starting with the introduction of personal computers back in the 80s, going all the way to November 1999, when the term eLearning was coined by Elliott Massie at the TechLearn conference held at the Disney World.
From then to now, a lot of changes have occurred, such as the faster Internet connection, the apparition of mobile phones and an increased need of delivering information and skills through a virtual learning environment. The eLearning platforms have evolved accordingly, coming up with new features and tools adapted to the current learning requirements and outcomes, turning from learning management systems to complex learning environments, where learners can access information according to their learning needs and styles.
Actually, a lot of people from various backgrounds and industries. According to this article, the top five growing industries using eLearning are as follows:
1. The healthcare industry. Being a continuously growing industry, the healthcare system has been using eLearning to train its professionals, allowing the medical personnel to gain knowledge and up-to-date skills without disrupting their busy schedules. As medicine is changing and evolving each day, there is always something new to learn, and what better way to deliver knowledge quickly than by using an online learning environment?
2. Computer and information technology. Most of the professionals working in this industry, such as programmers, security analysts and network administrators are already working from an online environment, so it’s normal that their training programs take place in a virtual space too, using eLearning platforms to make the delivery of information possible, no matter of where and when IT specialists engage in their learning programs.
3. Retail and eCommerce. The retail industry is competitive, with more and more people buying products and services online, and one thing that ensures competitive advantage is professional development of the employees.
4. Education. Online learning is here to stay, and more and more students engage in courses from their own computers, finding it easier to gain information and to actually retain it on a long term basis, having access to learning resources in no time and better engaging with the learning process at their own pace.
Talking about who uses LMS from another perspective, from our experience, we’d say the following categories of businesses and organizations:
Governments and public institutions, which need to deliver their mandatory training programs to all employees, in an effective and easy to track way, so they use eLearning.
Educational institutions, with high school and universities choosing to deliver knowledge in a hybrid format, using both the benefits of face to face classes and the ease of uploading learning materials online, so that students can access them anytime and anywhere, making the most of their learning experience.
Businesses of all sizes, from various industries, that need to train their professionals in an engaging and interactive way, with all the tools they need for an effective learning experience.
Self-learners, who want to invest in their own development.
For delivering knowledge, that’s pretty obvious. But knowledge comes in so many forms, and organizations choose their eLearning platform based on their corporate needs and training outcomes. Most of them use an LMS for employee training, providing employees with the information and skills they need to perform their tasks. Other organizations use eLearning platforms solely for delivering their onboarding programs, creating an intuitive learning environment for their new hires, giving them the time and resources to familiarize themselves with the organization and its values, as well as their role within the organization.
However, no matter who and for what purpose uses eLearning, the transition from traditional face to face training to eLearning should be made gradually, using the right eLearning platform and the appropriate tools and functionalities.
