MOTION SYSTEM TRENDS
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Why eLearning technical topics just may fit the bill
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IT IS A UNIVERSAL TRUTH that training for your employees and staff is a good thing. Finding the time and money to
send people off for training … well … not so much. Budgets are tight, people are too busy to be away from their primary responsibilities, and many people don’t like to travel to far away sites no matter how necessary the training might be. As a technical trainer for variable frequency drives (VFDs) you won’t hear me bad mouthing in-person training as probably the best method of presenting large quantities of mostly new information to groups or individuals. But the reality is that there just isn’t always the time and money available for it. Enter eLearning. Like all things in modern life, the internet has changed the game when it comes to training people on technical topics. Admit it: The last time you had to repair something around the house you first did a quick search of YouTube to see if there was a video that showed step-by-step how to fix your exact model. The same thinking can be applied to industrial and commercial devices that are just too complex to be intuitive. Here are some important reasons that justify why eLearning should be part of your employee training curriculum. Low or no cost: eLearning modules and videos are freely available on the web. Great short and long videos are available either at public sites like YouTube channels, or directly through manufacturer’s websites. Since most web browser can host the video or module there generally isn’t a cost for special software to view or host the content. And of course, because these are available 24/7/365 on the web, there is no cost for travel, lodging, and meals that are normally a part of onsite training. Pacing: In every training class, there is always a challenge to create a comfortable learning environment. Part of the challenge is the pacing of the content. It always seems that the information is coming too quickly for some and too slowly for others. Either way, it is easy for the student to lose interest in a class where the pacing is not appropriate for their skill level. With eLearning the pace of the information is totally controlled by the viewer-student. Beginners can stop the content and review at their leisure and even start over as many times as they Note that this article was authored before the coronavirus pandemic, so does not cover how eLearning can support efforts to slow the spread of the virus. Design World will continue to report on changes in our industry spurred by COVID-19.
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DESIGN WORLD — MOTION
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BY PAUL AVERY | PRODUCT TRAINING ENGINEER AT YASKAWA AMERICA • DRIVES AND MOTION DIVISION
With the current state of the internet and the interconnectivity of devices and equipment, it is in the best interest of any company that wants to optimize the productivity of their associates tasked with technical tasks consider eLearning. It offers high ROI due to its low cost, ease of access, skillbased objectives, and ability to customize to each viewer. Above: Some eLearning modules present quizzes to help students measure their own proficiency on a topic. In fact, eLearning modules can also provide step-by-step instructions on detailed tasks such as programming; virtual chapters on specific subtopics to save engineers time; and certification to those who require it.
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