Successfully further educate digitally
E-learning for companies
Last updated on this page: 01.08.2022
About this Page
E-learning is now hardly imaginable in adult education. About 91% of German companies use digital teaching methods and have already implemented e-learning in their businesses. The big goal: successfully educating employees – with simple technology and self-directed learning methods.
Learn about the advantages of e-learning in companies on this page: What methods are useful for your application? What do real examples from practice look like? – in the sidebar, you can jump directly to the answer to your question!
Why is E-Learning Important for Companies?
The numbers speak for themselves: Only a few companies in the DACH region still rely solely on in-person training. Instead, the majority now use various digital continuing education offerings and learning methods, in line with the introduction of E-Learning. Companies often combine E-Learning with a suitable learning platform. But why exactly? Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of E-Learning now.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Pure E-Learning
Like everything, E-Learning has its drawbacks as well. However, it should be taken into account that there is not just ONE E-Learning. Because: E-Learning is not the same as E-Learning!
Continuing education is just as individualized as the participants themselves, and this is naturally true in the digital space as well. Compared to traditional training with pure in-person attendance, there are, however, some advantages that make E-Learning as a digital learning method particularly effective and sustainable – especially for companies:
|
|
E-learning is well planned.
|
|
E-learning is diverse
Participants learn with multimedia and interactive content: Video, quiz, presentation, survey, and much more is possible with e-learning
|
With e-learning, participants learn independently.
Participants learn independently of time and place, whenever and wherever they want. Whether at midnight on the train or at noon in the office.
|
As you can see, E-Learning has many advantages but also a few weaknesses: If you are aware of the challenges of E-Learning, you can easily counteract! Three aspects can help you:
Simple technology: You don’t have to be a "techie" for E-Learning! Everything depends on a straightforward learning platform for your company. And it should be easy to use for course creators as well as for participants!
Good support: You can also do something against the lack of personality and difficult motivation: Provide your learners with support at any time and use many personal videos. This way, the participant does not feel left alone.
Practical application: E-Learning does not have to stand alone. For example, complement your online course with a final personal conversation – and you already have a simple Blended Learning approach, allowing the participant to apply what they have learned more effectively.
Advantages of traditional E-Learning in companies
What specific advantages does E-Learning have for corporate training? Especially three advantages are clearly recognizable and already outlined in the table above:
E-Learning is well-planned
E-Learning is varied
With E-Learning, employees learn self-directed
Successfully start with e-learning in the company
How do I plan the launch of e-learning in my company? How do I build online courses and how do I motivate employees? Our checklist in PDF format answers exactly these questions!
Plannable Method: In the company, you know exactly who the participants of the training are. You know the target group and thus the learning objectives. This allows you to perfectly decide which methods and content are sensible for your e-learning.
Varied Content: E-learning offers a variety of media formats. Thus, training in the company does not have to be monotonous but rather enjoyable for employees, provided that the learning platform provides a basis for it.
Learning Independently: No more 3-day seminars where hardly anything sticks at the end! With suitable e-learning software, you encourage employees in the company to learn independently. This way, what has been learned stays much better in memory. A prerequisite is that you provide support. Learning independently does not mean learning completely alone!
How does E-Learning work with suitable software for companies?
Every beginning is difficult, including planning e-learning for your own company. An important tip in advance: It doesn't have to be perfect right away! Start small and use your existing content. You can gradually supplement it.
To ensure that your start with e-learning goes as smoothly as possible, you should create a plan from the very beginning.
What are your goals?
Why do you want to start with e-learning?
What options do you have?
You should answer all these questions to design the appropriate e-learning for you and your employees. In the following graphic, you see the most important building blocks you need for the introduction of e-learning with a suitable learning platform in your own company:
What companies need to start with E-Learning
Illustration: To implement e-learning in the company, you need: A learning platform, (at least) one contact person, a plan with objectives, and of course, content!
To get started with e-learning, you need ...
… a fixed contact person for the learners
… a schedule
… a concrete goal
… varied and suitable learning content
… a suitable learning platform
A good e-learning software is not a substitute for good planning
Very important: Good preparation is also essential for success in e-learning! This does not mean that you should have planned every detail before starting. However, you should ask and answer the following questions – even with excellent e-learning software:
Who is my target audience?
What are the learning objectives?
How do I involve the management?
Start e-learning in 3 phases: From preparation to content creation to motivating employees. You can find a detailed guide to starting e-learning in your company in our free checklist:
Methods and applications for e-learning
Illustration: Methods for E-Learning in Companies – Blended Learning, Mobile Learning, Video Training, and Co.
There are many different ways to implement digital training in the form of E-Learning in companies. However, there is no single E-Learning solution. The following methods can be distinguished.
Blended Learning is, strictly speaking, a hybrid of in-person and online courses.
Blended Learning means the mixing of different learning forms with the aim of incorporating the advantages of all forms of learning and compensating for the weaknesses of the others.
Mobile learning is also known as M-Learning and means mobile learning through the provision of learning content that is available on mobile devices independently of location and time.
Mobile learning is especially suitable for young participants, as they can work on the course directly on their own smartphones. Of course, M-Learning is also suitable if your participants are often on the go and want to work on learning units in between.
Microlearning refers to learning in short segments with small, self-contained learning units.
Microlearning is especially useful when there is little time available for learning. The great advantage is that all learning units are short and can be worked on independently. This way, your participants can also use short breaks to find time to learn.
Video training is an E-Learning format that consists entirely or primarily of instructional videos.
Videos are suitable for almost any topic that you can represent in E-Learning. Moreover, they are also a popular change of pace for your participants in the classic online course.
Web-Based Training primarily refers to the way learning content is delivered. In WBT, the learning content is provided on the Internet or Intranet.
In principle, WBT is the basic form of e-learning that you can combine with other digital learning methods.
A webinar is actually a classic seminar that takes place online. A web seminar is conducted live and simultaneously independent of location over the Internet.
Webinars have the advantage that, just like in person, you can directly address questions and problems. While they often take place live, you can of course also record them and make them available later.
As you can see, there is a large selection of E-Learning methods that can naturally be combined with each other. They differ primarily in whether the learning takes place synchronously or asynchronously – that is, whether instructors and learners meet live together or the course takes place independently of time and space. Before making this decision, you should ask yourself whether pure E-Learning is the suitable continuing education method for your learning goals. You can read more about the available E-Learning methods in detail in the free overview.
The best e-learning methods for companies
You will find detailed definitions of these methods with helpful practical examples in the PDF overview "The Best E-Learning Methods for Companies."
Is E-Learning suitable for my application case?
In principle, E-Learning is suitable for almost all application cases in the company. Some supposed arguments against E-Learning are based on prejudices. Therefore, do not dismiss E-Learning outright just because you assume that E-Learning fundamentally...
is "cold" and impersonal.
has no practical relevance.
requires high technical knowledge.
The following checklist gives you a quick impression of whether E-Learning or a classic face-to-face event is more suitable for your application case:
Example: How is E-Learning used in companies?
The applications of E-Learning are as diverse as the method itself. And that is exactly why E-Learning is so meaningful for companies. It adapts to the needs of the company and the employees, bringing various advantages with it. E-Learning is not only suitable for classic digital education, it can also be used as a long-term companion in everyday work (for example, in the sense of Learning on Demand) or for onboarding new employees. The most popular forms of E-Learning for companies can be found in the following sections.
Top 3 Examples of E-Learning Concepts in Companies
1. E-Learning as a self-contained online course
The most common way to implement E-Learning is probably the classic online course. In most cases, the course is already completed and takes place asynchronously. The course leader creates learning content that he or she makes available on a special learning platform or an LMS for the participants, so that they can access the provided learning content at any time. An online course usually consists of ...
a welcome by the course leader in the form of a short video
a rough outline of what to expect in the course
various chapters and diverse learning content
a final test to assess knowledge
2. E-Learning for Learning Support and Knowledge Management in Everyday Life
Successful training can also take place directly in the workplace and in the situation, very much in the sense of Learning on Demand. Many companies are already relying on this e-learning method and are gradually building their own learning library in the online course. This can answer simple questions like “Where can I find what?” or explain entire processes or tools.
When employees document new work processes for example once with a quick screencast, everyone in the company can benefit. It is particularly important that there is a person responsible for maintaining and regularly updating the learning library.
3. Using E-Learning for the Onboarding of new employees
You probably first thought of e-learning as a typical training that takes place online. You can also use the method in the onboarding process of new employees. After all, there are also phases in onboarding where the new person needs to learn processes and foundational knowledge. Accompanying e-learning helps new employees keep an overview and better process the new impressions. In particular, videos are a good method for welcoming new employees in the online course to establish personal contact.
Special form: Implementing E-Learning as Blended Learning in the company
Blended Learning is often seen as the perfect introduction to e-learning for good reason: The mix of traditional in-person and digital preparation and follow-up makes the transition significantly easier. Both course leaders and participants get used to the online learning phase while still maintaining personal interaction during the in-person sessions. This is usually also clearly in focus and the online course serves as supplementary material. But even this is an important first step towards getting accustomed to digital learning!
Typical Application Areas of E-Learning in Companies
Of course, in addition to Blended Learning, Onboarding, and Learning Support in everyday work, there are many other topics and concepts that are particularly well suited for E-Learning. For example, the following areas:
- Sales Training
- Product Training
- Compliance Training
- Software Training
- Soft Skill Training
Practical Examples for Implementing E-Learning in Companies
Most long-term successful E-Learning concepts for companies use a mix of online and in-person, i.e., Blended Learning. In the following paragraphs, we will present two good E-Learning examples from the practice of large companies:
Virtual Training and Continuing Education at DVAG
The Deutsche Vermögensberatung offers more than 17,000 freelance financial advisors a variety of training and further education opportunities in the form of virtual Blended Learning. High flexibility is a must for freelance advisors from various age groups, which is why DVAG relies on completely digital education. This consists of:
an Online Phase to acquire basic knowledge about the software and individual functions of the systems. These phases are meant to prepare for active tasks in the in-person sessions.
a Presence Phase to deepen subject-specific topics in direct digital exchange with other learners. There are live workshops in regional groups on specific contents.
The learners can always choose which learning format suits them better. Learning should ultimately fit everyone and their individual preferences and daily routines.
The concept is based on the Blended Learning Model "Reiher" and is as follows:
The practical example of DVAG can be found along with other examples in our E-Book "Successful Blended Learning Concepts for Companies". Use the practical examples as a basis to develop your own concept for your use case!
Success in Practice: With the flexible blended learning concept, NOSA manages to train staff who are strongly focused on in-person attendance from various branches with consistently high quality. Above all, the comment function of blink.it ensures very active participation from all attendees with high individual learning success.
Simple e-learning for your company with blink.it
The technology is not everything, but it is essential for the success of an E-Learning! On the learning platform blink.it, high user-friendliness is a priority: Easy handling, appealing design, and the best possible support for success.Request a free admin demo now
