Embracing the age of Online Training

When looking to upskill or enhance our knowledge, the more traditional type of training has been face-to-face delivery with benefits including live discussions, networking opportunities, and interacting with the trainer. With a move into the information age, and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic (which has made face-to-face training less practical), online learning and E-learning have been brought to the forefront. Although these training types may not fully replace the face-to-face experience, they can be used as an alternative to get those new to a topic, up to speed on the basics; or as a refresher course for those more experienced. So how do these methods compare, and in which situations are they most useful?

Online Training

Online training is commonly held using a similar style to face-to-face training; however where the trainer and attendees gather using online platforms like Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Running training in an online environment requires attention to:

• Familiarity with the tools
• Planning for failures with the technology
• Trainee's responsiveness and engagement in an online environment
• Trainee's environment - are the attending from work or home and how are disturbances being managed? 

These challenges are real but not insurmountable and we must recognise that there is a place for face-to-face training within the mix. By holding training online, however, additional costs are reduced as travel, catering, and venue hire. 

Tips for Successful Online Training

1. Microphones: Often with online training, only the trainers will have their microphones on to limit the background noise coming through, and attendees may have their cameras off.  This makes it harder for the trainer to gauge the vibe in the room and keep track of who is being left behind.

2. Breaks:  Additional breaks help trainees to keep focus. Consider a 5-minute break every hour. 

3. Questions:  There is a risk that course attendees are less talkative than in a face-to-face session. The following approaches are options to address and promote questions:

• Questions can be asked by attendees directly to the trainer at designated times
• The chat box can be used allowing the trainer can answer at specific times
• The trainer can ask trainee's questions across the course and specifically target people to ensure engagement

4. Workshops: It is harder for the trainer to give 1 on 1 attention during class workshops. To mitigate this challenge the following approaches can be taken:

• An additional trainer can be made available in a separate virtual room to address specific issues and not disturb the flow of the course
• Courses are split up into multiple sessions and homework is given. For example, a 1-day course can be split into 2 x half-day courses. In between the half-day sessions, trainees can work on a workshop and contact the trainer directly at pre-arranged times to go through the answers.
• Where the use of tools is needed, the trainer may have to spend more time in "show-and-tell" where a workshop is slowly worked through, and trainees follow (after they have attempted the question themselves).
  
  

E-learning 

E-learning courses are developed to give trainees an interactive course, without the requirement for an active in-person trainer. They operate as a slide show with interactive buttons, components and questions that walk the trainee through the content in a way that aims to teach the trainee engagingly.

E-learning may not replace face-to-face training in all aspects, but it is effective in building up foundation knowledge and refreshers.  This way the E-learning option could ensure users an understanding of the basics, and/or establish a baseline of knowledge required for the attendees of face-to-face training or induction.

Benefits of E-Learning

1. Cost:  As there the trainer is not required to present the course content in real-time the cost of running the course, and therefore attending the course is less compared to the online or face-to-face options
   
2. Large numbers of people:  There is no restriction on the number of attendees that can be going through the course at one time.
3. On-demand:  Rather than having to prebook time out weeks in advance to attend a course, access to the E-learning course can be provided mere minutes after the trainee has been enrolled.  This allows the course to be completed in those immediate lulls in schedule, rather than relying on the hope that no other jobs or interruptions will emerge in the future (let's be honest, they always do).
   
4. Ability to start and stop:  The pace of e-learning is set by the learner, not the trainer.  This also means that if any unexpected interruptions occur, it is easy to push pause and come back later or even step backward and return to a concept that was not fully understood the first time around.

What Process Safety E-learning courses do we offer? 

Process Safety LMS is home to our E-learning courses: Introduction to Process Safety and our HAZOP Participants course.  These courses will take between 2 and 8 hours to complete spread over a period of your choosing and have the option of an international version that covers general global legislative requirements, or the version which covers legislation more specific to New Zealand/Australia. 

For example, our Introduction to Process Safety course covers a basic overview of Process Safety principles and their applications, as well as a generalised introduction to a Process Safety Management System.  This course is commonly used as an induction tool for all members of a workforce including operations, engineering, and site management, a look into what process safety is, and how its principles should be applied. 

Our HAZOP Participants course is a useful tool for those who attend their first few HAZOPs or want to be a more informed participant.  This course provides participants with insight into what a HAZOP is, when it should be performed, and what kind of input is required.  To help aid the understanding of the HAZOP process, the course also includes a mock HAZOP that the user can participate in to gain confidence in the HAZOP process. 

To embrace the flexibility of online learning and explore the full range of our E-learning courses, please visit our website HERE.