Hasnt the world changed? In a short period, we now have a new normal.
For some, this has meant working from home, for others, reduced hours, being stood down, or unfortunately retrenched.
What has become certain is that life is uncertain.
Yet, the need to expand our skills and be more employable has never been more critical. If this resonates and you find yourself googling online training or qualifications, there are a couple of things to consider.
Not all online training is the same.
Training providers vary in what they consider online learning. When researching, find out how the program is delivered and what happens if you get stuck. Is the program fully self-paced? This may mean you are given a pdf workbook, login to an online portal of content, pre-recorded lessons including videos, materials, quizzes and message boards, then it is up to you to go through the content and complete assessments. Research what live support you get from trainers via email, chat or phone. Is this included in the price or extra? How quickly will they respond to your questions or give you feedback?
This style of learning works for some. Why? It’s inexpensive (compared to face-to-face training), you can do it at your own pace, (working around family commitments or work) and you can do it from anywhere.
Sounds like #winning – right?
At LDN, we do things differently.
Our online training is delivered in real-time, with a live facilitator interacting with you, just as they would in face-to-face training – all from the comfort of your home or workplace or anywhere else you can get an internet connection.
We know how people learn best, and therefore combine the best of face-to-face training interactively, just delivered via technology to give you the best learning outcome. We use the most compelling aspects of online interactive technology but dont leave our learners muddling through on their own.
How do you know if self-paced online programs will work for you?
Even with the best intentions, do you sometimes find yourself procrastinating, or struggling to find time to juggle all the urgent versus important things each day? Let’s face it, were not all cut out for self-paced learning. The allure of training in your own time, when convenient, is attractive. However self-paced online only, without live sessions requires steely self-discipline, especially if there is no set timetable. Also, watching a video and reading materials isnt always the most exciting way to learn, even if you are passionate about the subject. Especially if the only sliver of time you have to yourself is at 3 am on a Wednesday.
These factors are critical contributors to why online training programs have lower completion rates than traditional face-to-face programs, so you should ask yourself, Am I a self-paced person or can I find a way to make a structured program work?.
With LDN, you learn in real-time.
For most people, we find sticking to a structure and having physical materials helps them get things done. When you undertake our programs, youll turn up at a specific time on a particular day, just like a real face-to-face session. If you can commit to the time, youll get through the content.
We will send you the workbook in the mail so you have something actually in front of you before the live training starts. No reading pages and pages of text off a screen, nothing to print. We provide everything you need to participate. You can find out more about how we do this here.
Checking for deep understanding
Our live facilitators check for understanding throughout the session. When a question arises during a face-to-face learning session, it’s dealt with in the moment, so you can then continue your learning with that question answered. If youre learning in a self-paced format, you may be less likely to ask questions to fill in the gaps of your knowledge if it means sending an email, then waiting for a response and may keep going even if you dont quite get it. This may later impact how successful you are with your assessments, and more importantly, it creates a gap in your knowledge.
If youre someone who likes to ask questions as youre learning, learning in a live interactive format is going to deliver you the best outcome.
Doing it on your own doesnt work for everyone
The solitary nature of some online self-paced programs may suit students who are uncomfortable in a classroom situation. But if youre a person who learns well in a group and likes to bounce off ideas, self-paced will likely be a little lonely for you. Traditional eLearning is often geared toward ploughing away at the program content with few opportunities for social interaction, apart from writing and responding to threads on message boards. This doesnt make a program interactive, and often the best learning happens when participating or listening to an evolving live conversation!
With LDN youll learn with a live facilitator and a group of other learners.
Youll get one of our excellent facilitators live on your computer or device from where ever you are. And youll learn with others – just like a real training room. Youll be able to see your facilitator, interact, discuss, join break-out rooms and simulate many of the activities you can do in a real training room. This is as close to a live training experience as you can get without physically being in a room together.
Completion rates and satisfaction
If youre looking at self-paced accredited training, ask your provider, What’s the completion rate of people undertaking their program?. This will give you a good idea of how well they support their learners through their learning and assessments.
Well be there for you.
Our support doesnt end when the live interactive online sessions do. You have time after the interactive sessions to complete your assessments with our facilitators and support staff available to support you via video chat, phone and email. Our results demonstrate quality. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NVCER) surveyed graduates of our accredited programs and reported:
- 97.1% were employed or enrolled in further study after training.
- 96.8% were satisfied with the overall quality of their training.
- 93.7% would recommend the training, 96.4% would recommend us as a training provider.
- 89.3% achieved their main reason for doing the training
See the full NVCER report here.
By focusing on the vital component of learning collaboratively, with a real-time facilitator and your peers (yet also supported by online collaboration tools) LDN uses the technology to enhance your learning experience – and that’s what gives our learners the best outcome.
______________________
SOURCES
https://workplacedimensions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/NCVER-Australian-vocational-education-and-training-statistics.pdf
https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/publications/all-publications/online-delivery-of-vet-qualifications
Safety Dimensions offers both accredited and non accredited programs though our LDN-i online platform powered by the Zoom conferencing platform.
Call us on 03 9510 0477 or contact us for more info.
Ready to train your people in safety, risk management, hazard identification or subcontractor management?
We have a range of programs to train your people in risk management, hazard identification and subcontractor management which can be tailored specifically to your industry and organisational needs. Training can be delivered as individual modules or as part of one of our accredited programs.
BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health & Safety
The BSB41419 Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety is a nationally accredited program that will teach you how to identify hazards in the workplace, assist with responding to incidents, assess and control risk and consult on work health and safety issues. This program is most suited to those in a Safety Officer or Health and Safety Representatives role, or those currently in leadership roles wishing to shift their career into Health and Safety.
Risk Assessment & Hazard Identification
This program helps you identify and describe the difference between a hazard and a risk, and introduces a way of thinking about hazard identification and risk management as an everyday activity.
It will also enhance the skills and capabilities of leaders in the areas of hazard identification, risk analysis and identification and how to implement appropriate risk controls.
Contact us for a course outline >>
Subcontractor Management
Learn to effectively manage WHS site risks and performance by learning how to effectively select, manage and monitor the complex and difficult world of subcontractors. It also covers the WHS obligations regarding subcontractors, stepping through the various stages of effective subcontractor management, including assessing, evaluating safety history, attitude and managing expectations of performance and reporting.