E-Learning: A Solution to the Skills Gap Dilemma

Results from ManpowerGroup's Talent Shortage Survey, conducted last year among 40,000 employers worldwide, revealed that employers find that a lack of available skilled talent and the persistent need to fill vacancies has a negative impact on the performance of their businesses.

Employers cited lack of essential job skills, the technical or hard skills and workplace or soft skills, as reasons for vacancies.  These are skill deficits that have increased since the last survey.  A hard skills deficit increased by eight percent since 2012, to 48 percent in 2013.  The soft skills deficit increased by seven percent since 2012, to 33 percent in 2013.

More than half of employers surveyed reported that skills gaps impact their ability to serve clients to a medium (35 percent) or high (19 percent) degree. Employers also believe these shortages reduce the company’s competitiveness and productivity.  With 39 percent of employers citing a reduced ability to serve client’s needs and 34 percent reporting a reduction in competitiveness and productivity, what are employers doing about it?

According to the survey, 23 percent of employers are developing their existing team by providing training and development.  It makes sense that with the lack of a skilled work force, employers are turning to training, and e-learning is quickly becoming the way to go.

In a recent report, The Value of E-Learning, IBM estimated that 40 percent of traditional training costs were spent on travel and lodging.  Other considerations include: employee salary and business losses from downtime.  The report cites some important benefits of e-learning which are: reduced training costs and impact on business, the ability to provide training to multiple students in multiple locations, exposure to expert knowledge and top instructors, and the accountability provided through e-learning tracking.

If you are facing these challenges, perhaps it is time to consider the e-learning solution.  KnowledgeCity has training courses in Business, Computer Software and Safety Compliance.

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5 Appealing Reasons to Try Distance Learning

Distance Learning has revolutionized the way we train and educate.  According to a report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., Global E-Learning is expected to reach $107 billion by 2015.  The reasons for this are advancements in technology, as well as, corporations recognizing the need to expand employee training opportunities.  But what makes this method so appealing?

1.  Convenience: E-Learning offers students the flexibility and convenience of training at any time, location and on almost any device.  Students no longer have to try to fit a course into their already burdened schedules. Education is now mobile with 24/7 access.
2. Relevant: Adult learners have already experienced a variety of education.  They want training and education that is relevant to their personal or professional development.  In a report published by the Johns Hopkins School of Education, 83 percent of adult learners cited the need to transition successfully from change as a reason for seeking education.  Whether a job change or a life change, distance learning provides relevant training and education opportunities.
3. Higher retention rates: According to ­­­the report: Corporate E-Learning: exploring a new frontier by W.R. Hambrecht and Co., e-learning has a 60% faster learning curve, compared to instructor-led training.  The reason for this is that e-learning allows more room for individual learning styles.  Students learn at their own pace and can review course material as often as needed, giving students more control over their learning process. This helps students better understand the material, thereby enhancing the retention rate.
4. Cost Effective: Not only does distance learning make life-long learning possible, but it removes barriers that would normally prevent some students from seeking education or training.  Technology has made distance learning more convenient and more accessible.  The higher retention of the course material alone puts a higher value on every dollar spent.
5. Environmentally friendly: Key findings in a study conducted by Britain’s Open University found that distance learning courses consumed 90 percent less energy than conventional courses taught in a classroom setting. The study also showed a decrease of 85 percent in CO2 emissions. If you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint, try distance learning.

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How Video Training Helps Students Learn

Online courses and video training have steadily increased over the last ten years.  Recent research suggests that 77 percent of academic leaders now consider learning outcomes in online education the same or superior to that of courses taught face-to-face.

KnowledgeCity’s online video training courses are taught with an innovative approach to learning.  We offer courses not in traditional lecture format, but in micro-learning sessions of: chapters and lessons broken down into minutes—not hours.  Video training in this method is more engaging; enabling students to understand and memorize the course material.

According to the Association for Talent Development (ATD), training sessions should be 20 minutes or less with short breaks in between.  The ATD calls these “brain breaks.” KnowledgeCity structures its courses in a similar manner allowing students to absorb and comprehend the information they have just learned before moving on to the next lesson.

Why is this important? According to a study on the Primacy-Recency Theory published by the US National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health; during sessions of learning, recall of information is better at the beginning and end of a presentation.  This means that students in a traditional learning setting would listen to a lecture for an hour or more but the only retention they would have of the discussion would be information contained in the beginning (primacy) and the end (recency) of the lecture.

KnowledgeCity is helping students learn better and retain what they learn, by using this research to develop a fresh, modern course structure.  Another difficulty for students attending a tradition lecture type class is the inability to rewind and review.  If you have not taken notes or brought a recorder to the session you may be at a loss.

At KnowledgeCity, not only can you rewind and review as often as needed to grasp concepts, but student also have access to course files containing examples and outlines to help retain the knowledge they learned long after the course is completed.

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KnowledgeCity: A Training Solution

The way we do business changes rapidly.  With these ever changing needs, employee training is imperative.  KnowledgeCity has recognized the need for businesses to train their employees in a manner that does not interfere with, but rather enhances productivity.  We cannot train employees in the usual way.  According to a report by the Association for Talent Development, outside training cost U.S. businesses an estimated $46.9 billion in 2012.

Read the full report:  ASTD 2012 State of the Industry Report

If you are looking for the solution, you have come to the right place.  KnowledgeCity is a leader in online education with over 7000 tutorials in our video library.  Start training the smart way.

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Overcoming Challenges to Training and Education

One of the biggest challenges to training and education is: Time.  Our lives are increasingly busy and finding the time to add learning a new skill, taking a course or attending college can seem daunting.  According to a report published by the University of Missouri at St. Louis, 12 percent of adult learners in computer based program courses reported that it was too time-consuming and another 12 percent reported that the technology was difficult to use.

So what is the answer?  KnowledgeCity offers online video training courses in a simple to use format that break the barriers to online learning.  Our courses are broken into short lessons that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.  Students are able to learn at their own pace without the added pressure to make time for attending class and completing course-work.  Just watch and learn.

All courses are taught by university professors, certified instructors, and experts from across the United States.  You don’t need to be tech-savvy to learn at KnowledgeCity, all you need is: a computer, headphones or speakers, and the free Adobe Flash Player to train and learn in a variety of courses offered in: Business, Computer Software, and Safety.

You’re in good company, according to the Online Learning Consortium, the number of students taking courses online has surpassed 6.7 million.  The survey also showed 32 percent of college and university students take courses online.  Education has had to recognize the time constraints of students and adapt new technologies to serve their needs.  In a recent Forbes interview, MIT revealed plans to educate a billion people by 2021 using an online course format.  To date over 170 million people have accessed courses from MIT.

KnowledgeCity is a leader in online education with a goal to provide you with the high-quality training you need to succeed in any aspect of your life or career. Train with us today.

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