e-Learning Benefit That Might Surprise You
What jumps to mind when listing the top benefits of e-Learning? The flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere? The interactive, learner-centric design? The consistent learning experience for large groups? Maybe even the affordability to develop engaging training once and then reuse it many times? The odds are pretty good that your list includes most of these benefits. However, reports are shining spotlights on another e-Learning benefit that you may not have considered.
A study conducted by Poynter’s News University announced that more than 75 percent of educators surveyed now integrate e-Learning into their classroom curriculum, and more than half of those respondents believe that online training has made them better teachers. You read that correctly. E-Learning is beneficial for both students AND teachers.
By incorporating e-Learning components into their learning strategy, the study suggests that teachers are able to connect the dots between the material presented in textbooks, lectures, exercises, and exams more fluently. Many teachers add that the e-Learning elements allow them to cover more material more quickly.
Another report, this one released by Boston College, explains that e-Learning can positively impact teachers’ professional development, which in turn enhances the performance of their students. According to Boston College Associate Professor of Education Laura O’Dwyer, online professional development courses that focus on specific content and target student learning needs can have positive effects on teacher knowledge and instructional practices.
The information in the Boston College report was assembled from four studies conducted over a three-year period involving 330 teachers and 7,000 students. In each study, some teachers completed online courses and attended workshops that focused on key areas of content knowledge. These teachers—and their students—were then compared to those who did not experience the online courses. Researchers found that teacher participation in online professional development translated into significant improvements in the outcomes of their students.
For those of us who have been touting the benefits of simulation learning for years, reports like these are great because they help more people understand that e-Learning plays a vital role in the learning process for the new generation of students and teachers.
About the Author: Patrick is the Director of Editorial Development at NexLearn. He has over 20 years experience converting ideas into words. He has helped develop hundreds of hours of immersive learning for some of the world’s leading organizations…and he’s picked up an armful of cool shiny and see-through awards along the way. He loves the challenge of creating innovative learning programs that entertain, engage, and actually teach.
