Will a Bad Economy Result in Lower Quality eLearning?

Due to the unstable economy, many workplaces are investing in elearning solutions to help their employees be prepared to take on additional responsibilities. But, some educators worry that difficult financial times will prompt employers to skimp on the quality of the courses offered to staff.

Jane Bozarth discusses this possibility in a recent eLearn Magazine article:

"...the intensified focus on money will increasingly lead to training decisions made on cost rather than quality. I have already seen instances where cost is forcing the shift in training delivery methods, with HR and training departments left behind as other decision makers (IT, the C-suite) make decisions for them, based only on economics. I know of two recent instances, for example, in which senior management, influenced by IT, purchased and launched commercial catalogs of e-learning courses without involving HR or training, with the business going to the cheapest bidder."

Hopefully workplaces will recognize the problem with purchasing low-quality courses and instead see elearning as an investment. One quality online course can be more valuable than dozens of virtual seminars with little information and little student / teacher interaction.

See Also:

10 Reasons to Earn an Online Degree in a Troubled Economy