The Challenges Of e-learning In The Workplace
While e-learning and online learning communities have made opportunities for learning more accessible and convenient there are a number of potential problems that have become evident with this approach. One of the biggest ones, based on my personal experiences, is that of distractions in the workplace. Workers are now faced with multi-tasking not only in their job, but also learning and work. E-learning is yet another task to be juggled into the person’s already busy schedule.
Terri Thompson (2004), in a paper presented at the World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Health Care & Higher Education, outlined some of the challenges of undertaking e-learning in the workplace. These all revolve around the need for support from the organisation and include:
- Developing skills in collaborating online
- Developing competency with the learning technology utilised
- Ensuring an environment conducive to learning, free of distractions (phone calls, emails, people dropping by the workstation)
- Recognition that the practise of belonging to a community improves e-learning events and outcomes, via dialogue and shared construction of meaning
- Organisations legitimising engaging in online learning activities, including participating in communities of practice, during the workday
In developing an e-learning strategy it is important that these issues are addressed. While some can be addressed by training and mentoring, others will require the commitment of management to providing appropriate environments (or sanctioning work practices that minimise disruptions). Finally, learning and development practitioners will need to negotiate with management at all levels to ensure that staff are supported in their online learning endeavours and given the time and recognition for this. Another change management task to be included in the design of e-learning activities.
References
Thompson, T. (2004), The Virtual Classroom at Work: How Teaching Shapes Workplace Learning. In G. Richards (Ed.), Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare & Higher Education (ELEARN) 2004, AACE, Chesapeake, UA, pp 2166-2171.
