Thursday, 24 April 2014

The 6 Most Common Mistakes Organizations Make While Providing Online IT Courses

By Ray Watkins


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: Technical implementation

Issues with software and other technology are not uncommon online, and many organizations fail to correct such problems in a timely manner. If the people who take a course are not able to move past a certain segment because of software issues, they may become frustrated. This can lead to a general loss of interest in the course.

Mistake 4: Irrelevant content

In addition to software issues, innumerable associations forget that dealing with content issues is important. This can be especially essential in the IT field. If there is too much irrelevant material in a program, the course can lose its credibility. It is critical to monitor course material, so that it remains helpful to participants every day that they are taking a course.

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: Timely 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 important tool for countless associations. It is important for people to learn from the mistakes that others have made. When common errors are avoided, an organization can maximize resources instead of wasting them unnecessarily. Using a qualified online IT training provider is another way to ensure that valuable resources are used appropriately.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment