How to get the most out of eLearning

Online learning swiftly caught mainstream attention during the pandemic, but in the automotive industry, eLearning opportunities have been available for years. Training in areas such as continuing professional development (CPD) and the annual assessment of MOT testers now leans towards an online solution rather than the traditional classroom.

If you are new to eLearning, there are a number of reasons why you should take look:

01_Environment

Choosing where to learn is an exciting part of eLearning, whether that’s a camper van by the beach, your own home, a shared space such as a library, or your  workshop. There is a lot to be said about selecting where you want to work and how long it takes to get there. Commitments such as children or a pet create inclusion for people who may not be able to shirk their responsibilities to attend a course.

02_Cost

Online education can often be cheaper for everyone involved, which is important for economically disadvantaged learners. Hotels and travel can quickly become a financial burden – even if the course is affordable, attending may not be so simple.

03_Time

Self-paced environments have the advantage of offering more time when it’s required and speeding up during subject matter that is already familiar. There is the added advantage of using time wisely and fitting education around other commitments that may rule out attendance as an option.

04_Connections

Expanding networks can really work well in online environments. Even if the provider doesn’t provide an online social ecosystem, it’s common for social media platforms and instant messaging solutions to emerge during the course. This is a great way to share interests and experiences with like-minded people, an opportunity that can be difficult in the physical space as time commitments are usually more pressured.

05_Current

It’s far easier to update e-material than printed content, ensuring that the information available is the most up to date.

Making the eLeap

Time constraints and costs can make access to education challenging, so an online approach can encourage lifelong learning. This learning can be used to improve knowledge in a new skill, focus existing knowledge or complete obligatory CPD. And don’t forget that formal education can help with career mobility, whether for a promotion or reinventing a career to enter a new field.

Of course, there’s always a caveat, and everyone needs to understand the potential disadvantages of online learning so you can choose the right option for you. These disadvantages include:

• Cheating can be difficult to monitor
• Lack of digital literacy can be discouraging
• Self-discipline is important
• Digital poverty can impact access
• Connectivity issues can exclude people
• Less cultural exposure

Those with fewer digital literacy skills could find eLearning daunting, but there are a number of reasons why they should still take the leap. The personalised approach can make online learning worth it, while the issue of privacy can be a huge benefit, allowing learners to read and re-read material in their own time – at any time.

eLearning has always been part of automotive’s approach to increasing skills, and well-supported eLearning programmes will help develop skills while allowing for engagement on the learner’s terms, which is enormously rewarding for everyone.

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This is an edited version of the feature from IMI's new MotorPro magazine, received free as part of IMI membership.