The adoption of eLearning in industrial fields has not been as fast as it could have been, but it is accelerating. This is due in large part to the advantages offered by eLearning over traditional classroom training. The difference in delivery, cost and effectiveness is considerable, enough to make even the most old-school project management professionals take a closer look at what eLearning has to offer. The need for project management training is ongoing, and eLearning options meet this need in a way that classroom training can not.
Online Learning Becomes Mainstream
Online learning is increasingly become a standard option for education across all disciplines. It’s popularity is growing in the workforce and according to eLearning Industry, the projected spending by organizations on eLearning is expected to double over the period from 2013 through 2015. From statistics like these, it is apparent that online learning has crossed into mainstream. This is true for professionals.
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As online learning continues to develop and evolve, it is increasingly becoming the go-to option for project managers. This is true for several reasons, including:
Adaptability
The pace of change in project management continues to accelerate. While the industries where project managers do their work and are not eager to fix what isn’t broken, they are also apt to adopt any technology that can make business more efficient and more profitable. This means that the tools and technologies used by project managers will continue to change, and probably at a faster rate than most are prepared for.
Online learning is much more capable of keeping pace with changing technology than classroom training. Because the system is modular, and developed for online access, it can quickly be updated as necessary. New modules can be created to address developments in a particular industry. This means that you can use eLearning to adapt to any changes in your field.
Accuracy
Traditional classroom instruction materials take a great deal of time to develop, and they also cost a considerable amount to publish. This encourages schools to use these materials for as long as possible. This is a problem in industries where specifications and technologies change on a regular basis. For project managers, the information given in classroom training may or may not be accurate in relation to what is currently going on in the workplace.
Online learning, on the other hand, is designed to be up-to-date. Accuracy is expected in eLearning, and any company that fails to meet these expectations will struggle to retain students. This means that if you are using a reputable online learning platform, you will only be learning from the most accurate materials available.
Usefulness
Classroom training typically happens over a short time period. A long weekend or a single week is usually all that is available to learn the required information. This has obvious drawbacks in a field where new information can be extremely complex. It also makes the instruction given in a classroom of limited usefulness.
When you are using online learning, however, you do not need to cram all available information over the course of a weekend. You can come back to the material when you actually need it. This makes it significantly more useful in a real-world setting. Because it is online, you could even brush up on information over a lunch break, or as you were working on a problem.
Timing
One of the great benefits of online learning over classroom training is the ability to time your instruction based on your need. While you can certainly take your time on what you are learning, you can also learn extremely quickly when necessary. This means that in situations where you need to acquire information fast – such as when you are facing a possible promotion, or when you need to solve a major problem quickly – you have the option of diving into the information.
eLearning Replacing Classrooms?
Because of its various advantages, online learning is increasingly being referred to as the future of education. The benefits listed above apply not only to project managers, but to anyone who wants to learn a new subject or skill as efficiently as possible. This is true in colleges and universities, in Fortune 500 companies and in the industrial sector.
The need for project management training is ongoing, and eLearning options meet this need in a way that classroom training can not.
If you would like to learn more about our online learning options and take advantage of the future of education for project managers and controllers, check out what Plan Academy has to offer today!
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