Tips To Convert Your Traditional Course Into An eLearning Format

The rise of the digital age has sparked a revolutionary transformation in the operation of contemporary education and training systems. Conventional methods involving one-dimensional, in-person learning are no longer sufficient for practical training. In their place, an ecosystem of streamlined, effective, and context-aware learning approaches has emerged. The central goal is to amplify flexibility, minimize expenses, and cultivate a tailored, user-friendly, self-directed learning atmosphere.

This digital learning framework, which has simplified information dissemination, bolstered global access, and expanded prospects, is universally recognized as - online learning.

What exactly is online learning?

Online learning, in straightforward terms, refers to a distinct form of education that predominantly occurs across diverse digital platforms. Instead of traditional classroom setups, online learning revolves around delivering information via eBooks, videos, webinars, interactive discussion forums, and real-time Q&A sessions.

Due to its significant promise, nearly 70% of worldwide organizations have begun integrating eLearning into their existing training schemes, with the remainder intending to follow suit by the close of 2020.

Therefore, as an enterprise, if you intend to use online learning over more conventional methodologies.

Here are a few advantages that you will be able to accrue from switching over –

1. Greater Access

Online learning provides greater physical access, especially in terms of narrowing of geographical distances. Irrespective of where your employees are located, with eLearning at your disposal, you can easily provide all of them with the same digital course. Doing so will permit you to eliminate the need for proximity and yet, impart the same training, everywhere.

2. Reduced Costs

Unlike their traditional counterparts, eLearning techniques do not require a massive barrage of unscalable resources. You don’t have to incur a huge amount of expenditure in buying equipment, hiring instructors, renting classrooms, or printing course material. Instead, you can simply design an internet-based course, which carries greater quality and maximum value.

3. Personalized Delivery 

Online learning, being sophisticated in origin and individualistic in extent, allows for training lessons to be delivered in a dynamic, transparent, and personalized manner. Lessons can be wrapped up within a single session, and specific areas that need attention can be focused on. Problems, issues, or doubts, if any, can also be immediately addressed.

4. Quick Upskilling 

The development of new technologies requires employees to upgrade their skills on a daily basis. If they opt for the traditional training mechanisms, it can cost them an arm and a leg! Online learning, on the other hand, enables employers to quickly upskill their employees (beginners & veterans alike) without enrolling them in a formal school.

5. Better Outcomes

With eLearning, getting feedback, tracing results, and measuring outcomes in an objective way becomes tremendously easy. You can quickly track the growth chart of each employee and follow their entire learning curve. This can equip you to make interventions and adjustments, as and when necessary, in order to improve productivity and augment performance.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg! Online learning also works wonders in facilitating understanding, enhancing pace, refining credentials, and reducing the carbon footprint of each organization.

How to migrate from traditional learning to online learning?

The good news is that converting your enterprise from a traditional learning environment into an online learning environment is not a challenging task. You are merely expected to make a few simple changes, and, as an organizational beneficiary, you are good to go.

This migration process, which is presently being undertaken by almost 98% of companies in the world, essentially requires:

1. Choosing a Format

The first thing you need to do while beginning your digital conversion journey is to identify and choose an appropriate eLearning format. In this regard, you can either go for –

• Synchronous learning– real-time, instructor-led & participatory
• Asynchronous learning– learner-controlled, flexible & self-paced
• Blended learning– an amalgamation of both, synchronous & asynchronous formats

Depending on which training style suits your work culture, you can select either one of the aforementioned formats and build your online course around it.

2. Examining Instructional Design 

Once this is done, the next step is to research, examine, and pick a viable instructional design. The design you choose must make sure that the learning process it encompasses is safe, systematic, efficient, and expeditious. If you are a beginner, go for simple design models that include audio/video resources paired with live teaching & PowerPoint presentations. Start small and gradually build up your digital courses.

3. Organizing Content

The key to migrating from traditional learning aspects to focused online learning is – organizing and managing course content appropriately. Chalk out a detailed schedule with clear learning objectives and divide it into smaller, digestible bits. Ensure that the content contains well-researched data, graphics, and statistics. Use animation/videos to put across a point. Update the content regularly to maintain progression and relevance.

4. Conducting Proper Interactions 

Each course module in your eLearning attempts must include detailed, direct, and transparent interactions. This is because communication, when routed through proper channels, can help facilitate greater understanding. Try to streamline your interactions on three essential fronts –

• Mentor – Learner interactions
• Learner – Content interactions
• Learner – Learner interactions

Micro-managing interactions on these three fronts won’t just make your learning module more communicative, but it would also make your learning outcomes more remarkable.

5. Evaluating Feedback

Last but not the least, build a facility for obtaining instant feedback within your online learning design. This facility should cater to the needs of both instructors and learners. Evaluate the feedback received on a routine basis and make changes in accordance with it. Doing so will help you smoothen your learning migration process without inviting any needless hassle.