Effectiveness of eLearning for the Rail Industry
Web Rail knows there are many drivers that regularly rear themselves (economic recession, missed contracts, higher share-yield, industry contraction, etc.), but the result is the same world-wide: managers are required to get more from less. So, when a rail organisation invests in training, the question is, “How do we get more from less?”
With the drive towards competency in the rail industry, the question of getting more from less is very pertinent. Quality eLearning (on-line learning, distance education, etc.) has many advantages, with few downsides.
Cost advantages
Reduced travel costs:
Eliminate most costs (time and money) travelling to a venue, by doing as much as possible on-line.
No meal or accommodation costs:
Reduce, if not eliminate, all accommodation expenses and meal expenses by reducing in-class training.
Reduced trainer costs:
Trainer costs are reduced as quality interactive eLearning will still have some monitoring and input from trainers, especially in the skills-development component.
No venue costs:
Venue costs are totally removed along with training infrastructure. Many organisations would love to convert training rooms into more meeting rooms. By the way, the cost of hosting eLearning is far less than training room costs.
Repeatability savings:
When training (such as induction; graduate, track safety awareness, site safety or compliance training) have to be repeated to different work groups, work sites or at different times, then the savings of a well-constructed program is realised each time it is offered — repeatedly. What is saved? All of the above, and that’s a huge repeatable saving!
Learning advantages
Caters best to different learning preferences:
We know that people prefer to learn in different ways. Some learn best by reading, others need to see or hear in order to learn best, and yet others can only learn after engaging in activity. Educators have struggled for years to bring all these modes together in the one classroom, but with eLearning it can be done easily.
Advantages of resource-rich learning:
Computers can provide links to web sites, documents to download, videos, Flash animations, drawings, technical manuals, forums, learning games, quizzes, case studies, testing and progress-tracking (to name a few). This resource richness inspires and motivates learners to progress through the material by catering to their learning preferences.
Allows self-paced learning:
With all the resources at hand 24 X 7, learners can progress through the learning at their own pace. The resources are available to review as many times as required and at any pace or in any chunks that the learner feels comfortable with.
Objective learning and assessment:
Where learning is delivered by computer, it is very objective. This objectivity makes learning fair, consistent and flexible. The computer can objectively assess participants throughout the learning material (diagnostic/formative) as well as at the end of the learning (final/summative grading). Pre-tests (to ensure participants are ready for the learning) and post-tests (to measure what has been learnt since the pre-test) are also easily-used strategies.
Disadvantages
Establishment costs:
Creating an online learning environment has a cost. Purchases such as secure web servers, Learning Management System software, employment of a web master and creation of backup and storage sites need to be made. These costs may be cheaper overall than establishing a physical training venue, but some organisations choose to have both a physical and a virtual classroom, giving them both the costs. Affiliate hosting of training will remove extra establishment cost.
Higher single-lesson development cost:
To design, develop and assemble all the required resources and media into structured online learning is much more costly than face-to-face training. In fact, a cost-benefit analysis should be conducted before any online learning is started. But, given any situation like a repeatedly offered course, then the return on investment soon comes.
The workplace situation:
Computer access and computing skills are rarely issue in today’s workplaces. But the heavy workloads of participants (and thus their capacity to take time out and complete any training) are a problem. Participants still need to devote enough time to complete training, but unlike a face-to-face class (where attendance is expected) the online learner requires discipline to find this time. We have found that online learners need to book out their diary as if they are attending a traditional class and thus give themselves the opportunity to succeed.
Rail Industry Training
In summary, eLearning has many advantages over conventional learning. When correctly designed and costed; when it is delivered by experts; and when it specifically suits the needs of a rail organisation, then the benefits are there to be had… repeatedly. Web Rail offers this quality service
