The Benefits of Web-based, Online Learning
Online Learning, also referred to as e-Learning or Web-based training, has many direct and indirect benefits, both to the student and to the sponsoring organization.
Why e-Learning Can Be the Most Effective Form of Six Sigma Training
Online training offers many advantages over traditional instructor-led training. Motivated adult professionals find that lean Six Sigma e-Learning is:
| FLEXIBLE |
Content-on-demand allows the student complete scheduling flexibility to start or stop the course at any time. The course can be taken in small pieces to aid retention. |
| ECONOMICAL |
Online learning has a lower cost, both directly and indirectly. Travel expenses are eliminated, and natural business downtime can be utilized. |
| ACCESSIBLE |
Online content is accessible for review as applications arise. Lessons can be revisited as required. |
| FOCUSED |
Students can leverage the time investment by skipping sections with familiar content, and spending more time on more difficult material. |
| CONTROLLED |
The student controls the pace of action. Studies of adult learning indicate that control by the student enhances the learning experience. |
| JUST-IN-TIME |
With e-Learning, students can acquire skills close to the time those skills will be needed and will not need to re-train on forgotten tools or techniques. |
| RESPONSIVE |
Online quizzes provide immediate feedback. Students can review quiz results and retry exercises whenever they wish. |
| INTERACTIVE |
Virtual Discussion forum simulates class discussion in an organized, researchable fashion. Everyone has equal access to questions and responses. |
| EXPLORATORY |
Exploratory learning is encouraged by links to related subjects, again giving the student greater control over course direction. |
| CONSISTENT |
The message is consistent between all students. The variation in instructor quality is removed from the equation. |
| ENGAGING |
Mixed media repeats the message in different formats to stimulate student interest and aid retention. |
| OPTIMIZED |
Online learning can be combined with classroom instruction to develop a blended approach, which takes advantage of the best of both delivery methods. |
Online training is effective training precisely because it delivers the Lean Six Sigma knowledge that professionals need in a direct, affordable, and highly flexible format. That's why an increasing number of individuals and Six Sigma deployments are turning to online training - because online training is Lean training!
Click here to learn to separate e-Learning Fact from Fiction!
Traditional Instructor-led Training is NOT Lean LearningAs practitioners of continuous improvement, we can look at instructor-led training through the lens of Lean Six Sigma to determine its effectiveness. Using Taiichi Ohno’seven forms of waste, we can examine the current state of the Lean Six Sigma live classroom model in the table below.
Defects
|
Green Belt or Black Belts who can't use the Lean Six Sigma tools appropriately to complete projects; training re-work to re-train skills that did not imbed themselves. |
| Overproduction |
Training Green/Black Belts who don't yet have meaningful projects on which to work. |
| Transportation |
Unnecessary travel to physical training events. |
| Waiting |
Delays in training initiation and project work while waiting for a class (batch) to start. |
| Unnecessary Inventory |
Over-training a wider body of knowledge than that which is required by actual project work. |
| Unnecessary
Motion |
Time spent in inefficient training activities that do not effectively build the required skills (over-reliance on lecture vs. active learning); class time spent covering skills that an individual has previously mastered. |
| Excessive Processing |
Using expensive instructor-led activities when technology could automate the process. |
From a Lean Six Sigma perspective, a training model design should address and resolve all of the above forms of waste. Clearly, live training alone does not do so. It is not Lean, nor is it as cost effective as online training.
|
