In the digital age, more and more people are opting for online training methods to improve their skills and achieve their professional goals. E-learning offers a wide range of advantages over traditional training methods. It offers greater flexibility, access to rich, interactive resources, lower costs and the ability to take courses from any location, at home or abroad.
In this article, we explore the reasons why e-learning has become such a popular choice of training method.
What is e-learning?
E-learning involves taking courses exclusively online, at a distance, using specially designed e-learning platforms (LMS). This training method offers an interesting combination of knowledge transmission and flexibility, enabling students to work at their own pace and with complete autonomy.
An e-learning course is therefore ideal for people who want to progress at their own pace, but also for people who want to train alongside their permanent job or current position in their spare time.
E-learning courses can also include a wide variety of teaching content, such as videos, slideshows, case studies and interactive activities, all designed to enhance comprehension.
Learning à la carte
E-learning offers the advantage of learning à la carte, i.e., tailoring the learning experience to the level, skills and expectations of each learner, not forgetting the company’s development needs.
Learners can therefore study at their own pace, going deeper into modules they consider complex, spending less time on those they have mastered easily, and so on. In a way, the learner is the master of his or her own training path.
The training organization provides a training program and pedagogical tools and content, and then the learner simply manages his or her progress independently, following the e-learning platform he or she has selected.
What’s more, companies can design or choose training programs that are perfectly aligned with the evolutions and skills upgrades they expect from their employees.
Better learning retention
Numerous studies agree that e-learning courses have a better learning retention rate than face-to-face courses. In other words, learners are more likely to retain the concepts and skills covered in self-paced e-learning modules than in face-to-face training, where the flow and pace are dictated by a teacher.
Significant time savings
Opting for online training means you can concentrate all your learning resources in one place, accessible on the dedicated learning platform anywhere, anytime. Courses, learning tools and additional resources are all in one place, logically organized and, above all, just a click away.
The typical inconveniences of face-to-face training, such as searching for the specific book for a module, summarizing course sheets or simply commuting time, are thus avoided, saving valuable time and effort for the learner.
The appeal of interactive teaching methods
Another good reason for choosing e-learning for training is the interactive nature of the teaching methods used.
By definition, an e-learning course is delivered entirely online, rather than face-to-face. This paves the way for the use of a multitude of high-performance and interesting technological means and tools to stimulate learner learning and facilitate the acquisition of skills.
Simplified training follow-up
High-quality, detailed training follow-up is an important factor, as it enables us to analyze the learner’s strengths and weaknesses in order to optimize learning, while also identifying potential areas for improvement in the training itself.
The digital nature of e-learning training makes this monitoring much easier. Data relating to each learner’s training path is automatically updated with every action taken by the learner, and can then be analyzed as and when required, with just a few clicks of the mouse, by the learner, the company or the training organization.
Reducing training costs
Finally, let’s look at the financial aspect. For companies, investing in e-learning training is an ideal way to train employees according to the company’s specific needs, while making very appreciable savings. Whereas face-to-face training involves a certain amount of travel for learners, the systematic remuneration of one or more physical trainers and a whole range of teaching materials, e-learning training requires only an Internet connection.
A company or training organization can also freely reuse the training provided, without any additional financial investment in terms of training content or geographical or time constraints. Similarly, if part of the training content needs updating, this can be done quickly and easily directly by the trainers concerned, without any particular logistical constraints.
Is an e-learning course eligible for the CPF?
Yes, it’s perfectly possible to take an e-learning course and receive CPF funding at the same time.
Bear in mind that the Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF) is a system that enables employees to finance their own professional training. It is open to all employees, jobseekers and the self-employed, from the age of 16 until retirement.
To be eligible for the CPF, training courses must relate to the professional skills and needs of the employer or the individual. E-learning courses can therefore be eligible for the CPF, provided they meet these criteria. In case of doubt, you can check with your employer or the training organization whether the e-learning course you have chosen is recognized and eligible for the CPF.
