While traditional classroom training has long been the norm, e-learning is on the rise. And with good reason – e-learning presents a compelling alternative with numerous benefits for care home leaders and their teams.
In this article, we explore six advantages of e-learning over traditional in-person training for care organisations.
1. Flexible and accessible
It’ll come as no surprise, but one of the most significant advantages of e-learning is its flexibility and accessibility. Unlike traditional in-person training, which requires staff members to attend scheduled sessions in specific locations, e-learning enables learners to access training at their own convenience, and from any location with an internet connection.
This flexibility is beneficial for care home staff, who often work irregular hours, and their managers, who may find it challenging to carve out time in busy schedules for their team to attend in-person sessions.
2. Save money
E-learning can be a far more cost-effective option for care organisations. Online learning cuts out the need to hire an instructor, and you won’t lose money if someone needs to drop out at the last minute. Instead, your team can complete training in their own time and in a location that suits them.
3. Engage and motivate your people
Another key benefit of e-learning is its ability to provide an individualised learning experience for each learner. Here at FuturU, we adapt our training based on the learner’s progress to ensure their unique needs are met.
E-learning allows learners to cover topics at a pace that works for them, taking the time to delve deeper into a subject they’re struggling with. This in turn leads to improved knowledge retention and overall skill development for everyone, not just those that respond well to a more traditional classroom style of learning.
Not only that, but our fresh and immersive content is actually enjoyable to do too, so your team will be far more engaged and motivated to learn. And more learning equals better quality service for the individuals you care for. It’s a win win.
4. Prepare learners for the real world
At FuturU, we take a scenario-based approach to our learning that goes far beyond the traditional theoretical instruction we’re all familiar with. This approach involves presenting learners with realistic scenarios and challenges that effectively mimic the real-life situations they’ll encounter in their day-to-day work within a care setting.
Through our immersive, story-led approach, learners get hands-on experience in navigating complex situations and making critical decisions. And by actively engaging with these scenarios, learners can develop problem-solving skills, an understanding of how they can put their knowledge into practice and a greater sense of confidence in their capabilities. As a result, they’re better equipped and prepared to handle real-world challenges, ultimately enhancing the quality of care provided to the individuals they care for.
Read more: How can storytelling improve knowledge retention? →
5. Keep employee skills up to date
Staying on top of the latest information, guidelines and best practices is essential for providing the highest quality of care to residents. But it’s not feasible to get an instructor back in to repeat training every time something changes. This is where e-learning shines.
Care home staff can easily access updated training modules, ensuring their skills and knowledge remain current, and allowing your organisation to adapt quickly to changes in regulations, protocols and standards.
6. Help your team to develop
When you book an instructor to come in to teach your team in person, it’s likely that they’ll be focused on one or two specialisms only, or perhaps a wider range over a week or two. This amount of concentrated learning in a short period of time can be overwhelming, and tricky to fit in around already busy schedules.
But with e-learning, the possibilities are endless! Your team can choose to expand their skill set and pursue passions and specialisms beyond the standards required, and at a pace that suits them. And you can truly support them to develop in their careers.
From flexibility and engagement to cost-savings, e-learning offers numerous benefits to care homes and learners. And by embracing e-learning as a solution to your training and development needs, you can empower your staff to thrive in their roles, provide high-quality care to residents and adapt to the ever-changing demands of the sector.
Read more: ‘It’s all about the quality’: Why Redholme Memory Care chose FuturU →
