It Is Time to Consider Switching to Virtual Learning
Online training has come a long way in the last two decades. With the plethora of e-learning authoring tools that have emerged, virtual learning is more effective and engaging than ever before. It’s also much more cost-effective than conventional classroom-based training. Following are just some of the advantages of e-learning over in-person training.
Significant cost reduction.
The economies of scale gained with online training are substantial. A course is developed once that can be shared hundreds or thousands of times. One extensive DSO case study reported a savings of $18.5M in training-related expenses when they switched to e-learning.
Access to the right training at the right time.
One of the biggest advantages of e-learning is that employees can access exactly what they need when they need it. With on-demand training, there are no logistical or scheduling complications. You just hired a new employee? That employee can access training specifically designed for those in her job role on her first day at work. She doesn’t have to wait for a training session that’s scheduled for the following month.
Targeted.
Do you currently have staff in different roles with different levels of experience sitting through a one-size-fits-all 4-hour or 8-hour course? The training likely includes some content that’s not relevant for everyone in the room—either because it doesn’t apply to their role or it’s not at the right level. With e-learning, training can be modularized into smaller units so that each employee can acquire exactly the skills and knowledge that they need at times that work for them and the organization. Staff can also work at their own pace, reviewing more challenging areas, or moving quickly through content that they easily grasp.
Scalable.
Scaling up training to meet a growing organization’s needs can be a herculean and expensive task with in-person training sessions. Coordinating training schedules at times that work for staff is a headache. Your organization may end up with a gap in training because of these logistical challenges. The organization’s bottom line takes a huge hit between the cost of trainers and staff downtime.
Measurable.
At the end of most in-person training, an evaluation sheet is distributed. If participants say they liked the training, then it’s considered a success. But, actually, just because participants say they liked the training doesn’t mean they learned and retained the information presented. Evaluating actual mastery of new content requires an assessment. With e-learning, measuring mastery is easy, and learning management systems can generate reports on employee performance with a couple of clicks.
Given the limitations imposed by the pandemic, there’s even more impetus to switch to e-learning. For more information about how e-learning can address key challenges for dental organizations, download our eBook. To get a better sense of what’s possible with e-learning, look at our short course demo on dental office customer service.
If you’d like to chat with us about how our organization can save you money while optimizing your training programs, contact us.
About NGT Academy
We are one of the very few turnkey-Learning Management System providers that specializes in the dental industry. And our eLearning platform is easy to use for both employees and managers, with a library of close to 40 courses created for dental teams. E-learning typically costs at least 30% less than conventional training, making for a truly efficient solution for your dental organization.
Do you want to learn more? Contact us for more information or schedule a demo