How business education is reviving e-learning

As technology quickly progressed, it seemed more than likely for e-learning to replace traditional education. However, its initial reception did not go as planned and it is only in recent years that it has begun to thrive. By changing its approach to education, e-learning is now focusing on the way that content is being taught to students by becoming more engaging and targeting those who will benefit from it the most. Online courses are now more interactive and are being taught differently to traditional education, which in the midst of a digital era is often a more appealing approach for students.

With the job marketing being more competitive than ever, e-learning can help to provide candidates with an edge. Business graduates often lack the skills that are required to excel in job roles due to not having had the time to gain real-world experience. Theoretical knowledge needs to be transformed into practical skills within the workplace and some students are unable to demonstrate this due to not having had the opportunity. However, e-learning consists of sitting down to learn online which displays determination and allows students to unknowingly develop and acquire more skills. Business students become more self-disciplined and cultivate practical skills that are highly desirable to employers. In comparison to someone with a traditional business education, this can help to make them a more favourable candidate.

Benefits of business education

With countless courses to choose from and the possibility of more career prospects, the popularity of pursuing a business education is soaring. Aside from being able to learn the fundamentals of what it takes for businesses to thrive, such as understanding the way that they operate and their hierarchical system, business courses also help you to develop into a more critical and logical thinker and gain a more in-depth look at what it takes to succeed. They are also particularly beneficial due to allowing you to choose between modules and decide which aspects of business are advantageous to your career. They can also open up the pathway to further study.

Benefits of e-learning

• Learn at your own pace. Online learning allows you to become your own teacher, ensuring that you are absorbing and understanding concepts. Teachers often have a time constraint when in a classroom and therefore quickly introduce new concepts and ideas without providing time to ask questions or fully comprehend what you are being taught. This inevitably requires you to carry out additional work in your own time, whereas e-learning provides you with the capacity to teach yourself whilst fully being able to comprehend ideas before moving on.
• E-learning requires you to create your own timetable because you are responsible for your classes. You can decide when you are the most alert and thereby ensure that you are working to the best of your ability. However, if for some reason you cannot adhere to your own timetable, you always have the option of being flexible and moving things around.
• Cost-effective. The cost of education is often underestimated. You are not solely just paying for the course. There are additional costs such as travelling to classes, parking costs to factor in if you are driving etc. These all contribute to the overall cost of educating yourself. E-learning helps to reduce this immensely because you are able to learn from your own home, making it a more cost-effective approach to education.

How much is it accepted by learners?

The shift in focus of online education to the student’s learning outcomes has proven to be successful and is therefore popularising this approach. Due to the interactive nature of e-learning, students are positively responding and pursuing more online courses. Activities such as participating in quizzes or contributing to being part of an online community not only help to support and sustain their business knowledge but assure that e-learning still provides the social and interactive approach of being in a classroom. The flexibility and accessibility also make education available to everyone, therefore contributing to gaining a higher quality job. When students are already accustomed to using technology for everyday activities and are utilising online resources such as reading articles and watching videos, e-learning is helping to cater to this audience and is therefore a more effective method. It has been well-received by learners and is only looking to improve.

E-learning is transforming business education by focusing its attention on the student’s learning experience and the different techniques that can be used to teach, filling the gap that exists within traditional education. However, it is through business education that e-learning has been revived and recognised as a credible and valuable method.