Home   >   Edtech   >   e-Learning with eCBIL™: Yes we Can!

e-Learning with eCBIL™: Yes we Can!

By on November 1, 2008
e-Learning with eCBIL

Many of our clients are surprised to learn that CBIL has the expertise to develop and host e-learning solutions. Using the Internet to deliver learning programs directly to the desktop, eCBIL™ delivers the right training to the right person at the right time and it can measure that learning.

What We’ve Learned About E-Learning

E-learning has evolved over the last ten or so years. Here are a few things we’ve learned along the way.

Online learning programs must be:

  • Just Enough:  An online program can’t hold an employee’s attention for very long.  E-learning programs must be short (about 20 minutes) and targeted to a learner’s needs. Estimates suggest that almost 70% of learners do not complete online training, so there is just a small window of time to make an impact.
  • Just in Time: Employees should be able to immediately apply what they have learned back on their jobs. Too much of a delay and the “learning” is lost.
  • Relevant:  Training must make the connection between the skills/knowledge in the program and how it can be applied on the job.  We can’t expect that learners will always make this connection themselves.
  • Engaging: Employees must be involved in the learning process. Boring “page turners” typically are not effective. Learners need to “do something” to keep engaged. Integrate lots of decision-making scenarios like those they will encounter on the job. An element of risk is important.
  • Measurable: Clients can track participants’ results on pre- and post-course knowledge checks to measure transfer of training.
  • Value-Added: No travel costs, lost productivity due to travel, and no instructor costs.
  • Flexible: eLearning programs can be part of a blended learning strategy to further enhance learning.

How Much Does E-Learning Cost? Well…

…it depends. The investment a company will make for a single online program can fluctuate based on the elements that will be integrated into the program, such as:

  • Audio narration – Will a company employee or a professional narrator supply the voice?
  • Video / Custom Photos – Will it require a new photo shoot?
  • Graphics / Animations – Will they be developed from scratch? How complex are they?
  • Level of Interactivity – Will it involve simple quiz questions or complex simulations with branching?

Other things that affect cost include:

  • Length of course – Are there multiple modules?
  • Experience of designers and developers
  • Whether content currently exists or must be developed from scratch
  • How course results will be captured – Excel, Learning Management System, other database

To explore how e-learning could save you time and money, call today!

About Lisa Stepanovic

Lisa has been with St. Louis Community College for over 15 years, most recently as a Senior Instructional Designer in the Center for Teaching and Learning on the Meramec campus. Previously she served as the Business Practice Leader of Instructional Design and eLearning in Workforce and Community Development. She has more than 25 years of experience designing, developing, implementing and evaluating engaging learning experiences in the corporate and academic arenas. Lisa holds a Specialist in Education Psychology (Ed.S.) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *