How to Choose the Right Online Course - Page 2© Audrey Choden
Page 2
Jun 6, 2000
How much can you or your company afford to pay? Courses can cost anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. In general, technical and computer courses cost more especially if certification is involved. A course with a live instructor, chat sessions and multimedia will also cost more than a self-paced one with limited media. What to look for in an online course Once you've determined your learning needs, style, location and budget, you're ready to go to the learning portal of your choice to find an appropriate course. Consider these factors when choosing an online course: What level of training does the course offer? Some online courses are designed to help you learn a specific work-related task. Other courses are intended to provide general knowledge about a particular subject. Still others prepare learners for certification on computer applications. Does the course provide an appropriate level of interactivity? The course should be interactive enough for you to practice new skills. Look for exercises that challenge your skill and knowledge. Does the course have a valid pre-course assessment? An effective course will give you an opportunity to find out what you already know so you focus on the lessons you need to learn. At the same time, there should be a valid post-course evaluation to measure whether you've achieved the course objectives. Does the course have an independent review and rating? Course quality varies widely. Even courses that are offered by the same vendor could have different levels of quality. Check reviews and ratings by independent sources such as Training Media Review http://www.tmreview.com and Online Course Buyers Guide http://www.lguide.com. Answering these questions for each course you're considering will make it easier for you to compare similar courses and to choose the right course to meet your specific learning needs. Late Breaking News Elliott Masie's TechLearn TRENDS (#171) published an executive summary of his recent Learning Decisions Newsletter research on the ability (and preference) of learners to learn at their desks. Findings:
47% said they would want to take an important e-learning event at their desks.
29% were most likely to take an e-learning offering at their desk during work.
35% said it was fairly easy to concentrate when they take an e-learning offering at their desks. An equal percentage reported that it was a bit distracting.
43% said interruptions from colleagues stopping by made it difficult to concentrate on e-Learning.The results were based on 2,474 responses from learning and training professionals during the week of May 15, 2000. For more information about this study and about Learning Decisions Newsletter, follow the link at http://www.masie.com.
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