E-learning is still a relatively new technology and a debate has already begun over its effectiveness as a learning tool. Many businesses are adopting and implementing this technology while others remain to shun it and opt for more traditional learning methods.

In order for E-learning to be an effective tool, a business needs to look at the pros and cons of this learning technology to determine if it is right for them and their employees. If you are thinking about e-learning for your workplace, you should consider the pros and cons described below before going ahead with it.

One of the very nice things about e-learning is that it learners can usually access it at any time. This allows the motivated employees to fit new training into their own schedules. However, this can be a con for the no-so-motivated learners who require more structure. A work around for this may be to designate 10-15 minutes a day where employees are required to focus on their course.

E-learning eliminates the need for businesses to have to arrange for specialized trainers to come into the workplace, thereby adding more flexibility as to when you start training. For example, if you need to train your employees in a new technology, you no longer have to wait for a trained instructor to come available. On the other hand, this eliminates the social interaction that goes on between students and instructors. So instead of completely eliminating this type of interaction which can be valuable for learning, consider using a balance of e-learning and instructor led training.

When it comes to budget cuts, training is one of the first places to usually feel it. A workplace may look at e-learning as being more cost-effective. It eliminates travel costs and the cost of hiring an instructor. However, the cost to implement an e-learning system across a network could be significant.

E-learning may or may not be ideal for your workplace. Keep in mind that it does not need to be an all or nothing solution. Employees will have different learning styles so a balance between e-learning and more traditional methods may be the most effective approach.