eLearning has become a popular mode of education delivery worldwide, especially after the pandemic forced the entire ecosystem to go virtual. eLearning refers to using digital technologies for learning and teaching, providing an opportunity to access education from anywhere, anytime.
The global eLearning market is projected to reach $319 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 9.2% from 2020 to 2025. The importance of eLearning cannot be overstated, especially in the current digital age where learners require skills relevant to the changing job market.
A survey by the Research Institute of America found that eLearning improves employee retention rates by up to 25-60%. eLearning also allows learners to study at their own pace, which can lead to a better understanding of concepts and improved academic performance.
However, the benefits of eLearning come with a set of challenges as well. Some of the common eLearning challenges include technical issues, lack of motivation, inadequate learner engagement, limited interaction with instructors and peers, and time management issues. These challenges can be daunting, but with the right strategies, they can be overcome.
Common eLearning Challenges and Solutions
While eLearning has several advantages, including flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and personalized learning, it also comes with its own challenges. Some of the common eLearning challenges are as follows:
#1 Technical Limitations
Technical limitations can range from slow internet connectivity to system crashes. These challenges can cause frustration and result in a loss of learning time. As the learning ecosystem is built in online mode, technical issues can play spoilsport in delivering the benefits seamlessly. The technical issues can be different from the learning challenges in the classroom.
How to Overcome
Organizations should provide technical support to employees to help them overcome any technical issues they face in adopting eLearning models. In addition, Organizations should provide orientation sessions to employees to help them become familiar with the eLearning platforms and its features. With the right troubleshooting resources such as online help documents and video tutorials to help employees troubleshoot technical issues, the impact of technical issues can be minimized.
#2 Lack of Motivation
Lack of motivation is a significant challenge for eLearning students. With no physical presence of teachers, students may lack the drive to complete tasks and may struggle to remain focused. A study by TalentLMS found that only 33% of employees find it challenging to stay motivated throughout the training.
How to Overcome
Organizations should set clear goals and expectations for eLearning to motivate employees to learn and engage with the content. In addition, it should provide engaging and relevant content to keep employees motivated and interested in learning. Gamification techniques such as badges, points, and leaderboards can motivate employees and make learning fun.
#3 Inadequate Learner Engagement
eLearning can lead to inadequate learner engagement, as students may feel disconnected from the learning process. This can be due to the absence of face-to-face interactions, lack of peer feedback, and the passive nature of learning. Learners often do not find eLearning engaging, highlighting the need for better learner engagement strategies.
How to Overcome
Organizations should offer a variety of learning activities such as quizzes, games, and case studies to keep employees engaged. Interactive multimedia such as videos, animations, and simulations can increase learner engagement. In addition, Group work and discussions can help employees connect and increase engagement.
#4 Limited Interaction with Instructors
In eLearning, there is limited interaction with instructors, which can hinder the learning process. Students may struggle to get the necessary support and feedback they need to progress in their learning. Several studies point towards the fact that learners who received feedback on their progress showed a steady performance improvement compared to those who did not receive feedback.
How to Overcome
Organizations should provide opportunities for employees to receive feedback from instructors to help them improve their learning. Virtual office hours can help employees connect with instructors and get the support they need. At the same time, Video conferencing tools can enable real-time communication between employees and instructors.
#5 Limited Interaction with Peers
In traditional classroom learning, students can interact with peers, engage in discussions, and work collaboratively. However, in eLearning, there is limited interaction with peers, which can lead to a sense of isolation and disengagement.
How to Overcome
Collaborative tools such as discussion forums can enable employees to collaborate and learn from each other. Group work and discussions can help employees connect and learn from each other. An organization can also use virtual communities to empower employees to connect and share knowledge and experiences.
#7 Time Management Issues
eLearning requires students to manage their time effectively. However, managing time can be challenging, especially for employees who are juggling multiple responsibilities. A study found that employees spend only 1% of their workweek on learning, indicating the need for better time management strategies.
How to Overcome
Organizations should provide a flexible schedule for eLearning to enable employees to manage their time effectively. Chunking content into smaller segments can help employees manage their time and avoid information overload. Time management resources such as calendars and productivity tools can help employees manage their time effectively. According to a study by LinkedIn Learning, 58% of employees prefer to learn at their own pace, indicating the need for flexible eLearning solutions.
#8 Wearing Too Many Different Hats
Depending on the size and requirements of the business, the learning and development team is often found wearing too many different hats at the same time. This is especially true for businesses that do not have a dedicated team to look after the learning and development function. The L&D team can be seen playing the role of a course builder, subject matter expert, LMS admin, and instructor. As no individual is an expert at all functions, the end product suffers in quality when the organization believes otherwise.
How to Overcome
Even if the business does not have the budget to set up a separate unit for learning and development, there are several tools available in the market to help you with various functions. For instance, PrepAI can help organizations to create advanced AI-based question papers with ease and conduct assessments as well. At the same time, the business can also choose to outsource various functions of eLearning. It can help each professional to work according to individual strengths and weaknesses.
#9 Keeping up Pace With Modern Technology
With the pace of change in the industry, it has become critical to find the right balance between modern tools and solutions and the requirements of an organization. A business needs to spend considerable time, effort, and money in finding the right tools, especially considering the new solutions that hit the market regularly. It is often seen that professionals rely on something that they are familiar with rather than changing the approach. However, on the flip side, a business may find that the tools being used are outdated compared to the current needs.
How to Overcome
The best way to find the right solutions is to stay in constant touch with the industry. The team can refer to unbiased blogs and other online resources to identify the winners. Solutions like PrepAI can be included as part of the mix to achieve the set objectives. At the same time, events and conferences can also be used to stay in touch with the latest happenings in the industry. It can also prove to be critical to developing a strong community.
#10 Training a Wide Audience Demographic
As the base of the learner widens, it becomes important to incorporate a variety of learning styles to appeal to the target group. As a result, with the right analysis of the training needs of the learners, it is not easy to design a program that is appealing to a wide audience at the same time. The organization is often found walking a tightrope between appealing to different demographics and finding the right solution that can work as a one-stop-shop solution
How to Overcome
The best way to overcome this hurdle is to invest some time into understanding more about the learners. By understanding what is needed, expected and the end objective of the training program, a business can come up with relevant solutions. It is also helpful to understand the preferred learning styles and formats.
Conclusion
eLearning has become an integral part of the modern workplace, providing organizations with a cost-effective and convenient way to train their employees. The mentioned challenges can lead to a decrease in employee engagement, productivity, and retention rates. Organizations must overcome these challenges by implementing effective solutions. Providing technical support, setting clear goals and expectations, offering engaging content, using interactive multimedia, and encouraging group work and discussions are just a few solutions that can help organizations overcome eLearning challenges.
Recent statistics have shown that employees who receive proper training and development are more likely to perform well and stay with their employer. According to a study by LinkedIn, 94% of employees would stay with their current employer longer if the company invested in their career development. Additionally, a report by the Association for Talent Development found that companies with comprehensive training programs have 218% higher income per employee than those with less comprehensive training programs.
Therefore, organizations need to prioritize employee training and development through effective eLearning solutions. By overcoming eLearning challenges, a business can improve employee performance, increase productivity, and reduce training costs.
