E-learning has become a well appreciated tool for various uses. Especially during the events of the last two years, more and more institutions as well as companies have discovered the enormous potential of using this novel approach in order to enhance education, training, and other occasions in which they want to share information. But what exactly are these benefits? How can you further enhance them in order to maximize the efficiency of this learning approach?
What Is E-Learning?
First and foremost, electronic learning – more commonly known as e-learning – is just that: Learning through electronic means. Typically, you can use a computer or a smartphone. It is mainly used in the educational system for teaching purposes and by companies for training purposes. Some firms even offer e-learning modules to potential customers to provide information on their products and thus enhance sales.
Because of its electronic nature, e-learning has the benefit of being extremely versatile. Different people learn by different means. And with this approach, you have the chance to include multiple kinds of media like texts, pictures, infographics, and even videos. This allows you to transport the information in multiple ways to address the different learning types. In between modules, you can add quizzes to let the participant repeat the learned material before being exposed to new material. As you can see, the sheer versatility of e-learning is one of its core advantages. This makes the experience for the user significantly more dynamic and interactive.
Why Is E-Learning So Popular?
A major benefit of e-learning is the flexibility you give to the participant. Everyone learns at their own pace – And the e-learning approach takes this into account. Participants can go at a pace they feel comfortable with. If a module is not clear to a user, they can simply repeat it. Thus, everyone can ensure that they get the maximum value out of the course for themselves.
Cost efficiency is another one of the major advantages of this approach. Once the creation of an e-learning module is finished, it can be used infinitely – And with every new participant, the cost per user goes down.
After thoughtfully creating the modules, they should contain all of the information you need to convey. As you utilize them to train multiple people, they facilitate consistency of the training experience. E-learning ensures that every participant enjoys the same amount, quality, and delivery of information when participating in the same module.
So while the setup of e-learning is certainly an investment, it is a highly sustainable one that increasingly pays off in the course of time.
Discovering and acknowledging these benefits has led more and more companies to integrate e-learning into their training and development processes – With massive success. They found that this approach efficiently increases retention rates among trainees while saving company resources. Due to these benefits and the growing number of opportunities it can provide due to continuous technological progress, the importance and use of e-learning are rapidly growing. And with more and more companies looking to use e-learning, different experts predict an annual growth rate between 10 and 25% for the sector.
How Can You Get The Most Out Of It?
The key to conveying information is engaging the learner. Make it fun! Instead of a solely teaching a lesson, e-learning gives you the opportunity to create a learning experience that truly engages the participant. And providing this experience will greatly improve retention and satisfaction with the learning.
Using various types of media in a module ensures versatility. However, there are some types of media that are more effective at achieving the desired results than others. Texts can contain a lot of information, but might be exhausting to read and complicated to understand. Pictures might be easy to understand, but might contain a very limited amount of information. The type of media that is typically the best at engaging the audience is video. By using motion pictures in combination with an explanatory and engaging voice over, you can convey information in a multisensory experience. This allows the learner to retain it through more means at the same time. As a consequence, the participant is engaged on a deeper level and will thus remember a lot more of the information.
Videos - Using The Full Potential of E-Learning
But how can you include videos in e-learning to create an educational experience that will increase retention? During which part of the module can you integrate videos in order to use the full potential of e-learning?
You Can Use Videos in two ways: Firstly, to introduce a module, preparing the viewer for the upcoming information and giving them an overview of the material they are about to encounter. The other way is to use them as classes that present the material that is to be learned.
Whether used for the former or the ladder, videos are extremely versatile. You could use an animated video, record an interview, or even use an interactive video that enables the viewer to actively participate. When using videos to teach, you can also show a simulation of a process or have a person demonstrate it. This versatility makes videos an all-rounder in e-learning. Whatever information you intend to convey: There is a type of video that perfectly matches your individual needs.
To encourage participation, it can be helpful to include quizzes about the learned material. You can do this by integrating them during or after the video, or by adding an assessment in the end of the module. Providing certificates after modules and courses after completion leads to additional psychological motivation to excel in the e-learning.
Conclusion
As you can see: The possibilities you have with e-learning are very broad. The options available to enhance engagement and retention are plentiful. Especially when using video in a module, you can make sure to use the maximum potential of your e-learning.
In the end, what is perhaps the most important aspect of learning is the amount of information that is really retained and thus remembered. And in this regard, e-learning has been shown to achieve excellent results. The mix of different kinds of media, especially including videos in this mix, will captivate and engage the audience so that they will remember the information you intend to convey.
Interested in exploring your options on how you could use videos in your e-learning concept to maximize effectiveness? Contact us now!