Training Providers: Get online or get left behind

It’s a fact that E-Learning is rapidly embedding within the Australian business landscape and is transforming the way organisations manage and build internal skills and talent.

With this in mind, it is now more important than ever for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to get online and expand their offline offering with an online component. Whilst some providers have taken this important step, skillsmaintenance.com CEO Peter Spinda says that there are many RTOs Australia wide who have either yet to make the transition, or who have made a start but are well behind when it comes to the quality of content and design that can be achieved today.

Spinda says there are a several reasons why many RTOs haven’t expanded their offline offerings with online courses. From discussions with training providers nationwide, Spinda cites the following main reasons:

1.       - Cost of course production

2.       - Not enough time and/or experience to produce e-learning courses

3.       - Unfamiliarity with the new technology

4.       - Not sure how to use the technology within their business

5.       - Seems too hard overall

Online learning doesn't have to be daunting however, and, as skillsmaintenance.com demonstrates, technology is now available that can plug any RTO into the online learning realm within a matter of hours, with ready-made, ready to deliver content that requires minimal effort on the business owners part.

‘In today’s business landscape, if your business is not using technology to generate efficiencies and drive greater profitability, then you need to take a hard look at your business and ask yourself, can I realistically expect to stay competitive over the coming few years?’ says Spinda.

Making the decision to say ‘yes’ to online content delivery is one thing. Execution in a professional and profitable manner is another. One of the biggest mistakes RTOs can make when expanding into online learning is the creation of poor quality courses that are more akin to a boring PowerPoint presentation, than a well-designed, engaging and interactive tool that will enhance the learning experience. Typically these in-house developed courses take up far too much time, resources and money for what they are worth, leaving the RTO scrambling to try and gain some form of return on the investment made.

On the topic of course development, Spinda says that - ‘The reality is that developing professional online courses take time and money. Most RTOs can’t afford the vast sums required, and even the bigger players act with caution when looking at custom development. And this is exactly where skillsmaintenance.com comes in. We have done the hard yards. We have developed and continue to develop high quality, ready to use online courses without the RTO having to pay for development costs. Our pay per use system finally makes it viable for EVERY RTO to get online, and deliver content using the best looking courses found on the web’.

Of course, as an RTO you have specific regulatory requirements to meet, so it’s important that courses you deliver meet these requirements. This has been carefully considered in the development of the skillsmaintenance.com courses, of which most are ready for mapping against relevant competencies should this be required by the RTO.

‘Using a blended approach to learning has immense benefits for the training provider, the employer and the employee’, says Spinda, ‘Although online learning has been around for years, we are just scratching the surface of what will be possible in the coming years, giving even greater impetus for RTOs to get online, or get left behind’.

For further information please contact Peter Spinda, CEO, skillsmaintenance.com on 0434 236 418 or visit www.skillsmaintenance.com