Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Top 6 Mistakes Organizations Make While Using Online IT Courses

By Donna Willis


Using elearning courses is a way for organizations to maximize time, money and other valuable resources. This kind of training is typically convenient for the people who participate in it, and many individuals prefer it as a learning method. However, as with any other type of practice, a variety of issues may arise. It is not unusual for associations to make certain mistakes while implementing online training, and some mistakes are more common than others.

Mistake 1: Hands-off approach

One of the most common errors that an organization might make is to have the expectation that people will enroll in a course, simply because it is available. In fact, there is a variety of reasons why some online IT training do not experience success after their initial implementation. Unless a course is made a requirement, there could be many factors that keep individuals from taking it and remaining committed to it.

Mistake 2: Unlimited time

Another common error is to give participants an indefinite length of time to finish a course. When someone knows that a course does not have to be completed by a certain deadline, it may become a lower priority than it should be. If a person knows that training is a requirement, and that it has be done by a specific date, a greater sense of urgency is established. Some associations have discovered that dividing courses into segments, and setting deadlines for all of the segments, is a highly efficient way to improve overall success and completion rates.

Mistake 3: Software issues

Problems with software are not uncommon online, and numerous organizations fail to rectify such issues in a timely way. If the individuals who enroll in a course cannot navigate through it because of technical issues, they could quickly become frustrated. This may lead to an overall loss of interest in finishing the course.

Mistake 4: Irrelevant content

In addition to technical issues, numerous associations forget to deal with content that becomes irrelevant. This may be especially critical in the field of IT. If individuals see too much obsolete material within a program, the entire course could lose its credibility. It is essential to be sure that course material remains useful and relevant to people on a daily basis.

Mistake 5: Complex issues

An easy error to make is to think that an online course alone is enough to inform individuals about a complex subject. While some very basic courses might be completed easily, most require the guidance of an instructor. An online classroom format can be structured so that an instructor might explain various aspects of the course.

Mistake 6: Lack of communication

Lack of communication could be the top error a company might make, when it is offering such courses online. If there is a change in a deadline, it will likely benefit the organization to promptly tell participants about the change. Before implementing a course, an organization should communicate any main objectives or major requirements that are expected of participants.

Elearning has become an essential tool for a great number of associations. It is helpful for companies to learn from the mistakes of others. When common mistakes can be avoided, an association can make the most of available resources, instead of unnecessarily wasting them. Using an experienced online IT training provider is another good way to be sure that valuable resources are maximized.




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