Elearning! Magazine: Building Smarter Companies via Learning & Workplace Technologies.
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trendswebconferencing Web conferencing for train- ing were asked how it has affected their current training offering. The top business benefit was: "reduce travel budgets" (80%). Clearly, however, the value trainers are experiencing also includes their ability to accomplish new things. "Include learners who could not attend before" (77%) sug- gests that the need to improve productivity is near- ly equivalent to the pain of economic pressures. Given that fewer respon- dents chose "replace in-per- son courses" (53%) than "reduce travel budgets" (80%), it is likely that many trainers are blending in-per- son training with live, online training. Still, the fact that half of trainers with experi- ence using Web conferencing have replaced in-person courses is significant. Add this to the surprising fact that 38% of respondents note that Web conferencing creates new opportunities ("enable new courses that we could not hold before"), and the conclusion of the study is clear: synchronous remote training potentially offers more than just saving money to an organization open to new pos- sibilities. Compared to the growth rates of "other technologies" (23% growth) and "audio conferenc- ing only" (9% growth), two observations emerge. First, audio conferencing has long been the option for synchronous remote training, yet its single-modal engage- THE BOTTOM LINE: CHANGING TIMES CALL FOR CHANGING TACTICS. The results of this survey sug- gest that a rapid evolution in training delivery is occurring. Economic pressure may be a catalyst for change, but the Live training using Web and audio conferencing leads in current usage and in anticipated growth. WEB CONFERENCING IS THE FASTEST GROWING ALTERNA- TIVE TO IN-PERSON TRAINING Survey respondents were asked to compare how their organi- zations deliver training today versus what they anticipate one year from now. Overall, in-per- son training is expected to decrease from 62% of all train- ing delivered to 50%, while the expected use of all alternatives increased. Live training using Web (and audio) conferencing is expected to grow 34% in the next year. ment (aural only) is a signifi- cant limitation. Second, self- directed e-learning using on- demand solves the problem of including visual engagement, yet in this survey both are used less and projected to grow at a slower rate than Web conferencing. As an alternative to in-per- son training, live training using Web (and audio) conferencing leads both in current usage and in anticipated growth. 1080 Group believes the reason is likely a combination of fac- tors, including: >> Web conferencing engages multiple senses. >> Web confer- encing affords trainers flexibility in content delivery. >> Live train- ing content often requires significantly less preparation and production time than on-demand e- learning. 36 Annual 2010 reality is that Web conferenc- ing is opening up new possi- bilities as well. For some trainers, it's a method to blend learning experiences. For others, it may be an opportunity to control an instructor-led experience in a way that audio conferencing alone never afforded. Whatever the reasons, live training using Web conferenc- ing is the preferred way to simultaneously respond to pressured budgets and pursue improved productivity. Ultimately, these survey results raise the question: If trainers can achieve these benefits by adding Web con- ferencing to their training communications mix, what will happen to the competi- tiveness of organizations that fail to adapt? —Don't be left behind the com- petition. GoToTraining from Citrix Online makes it easy to train up to 200 people in any location — right from your desk. Try GoToTraining free for 30 days. Visit gotomeeting.com/elearn today. Elearning!