Environmental Impacts of Online Training
Online training is truly separating itself from the traditional ways of learning. Not only is it cost effective, but there is tremendous savings with environmental energy. eLearning has proven to provide huge savings for companies and universities for training and education. Recently, Britain’s Open University conducted a study on how eLearning results in huge energy savings. eLearning courses consume 90% less energy and produces 85% fewer students that drop eLearning courses than the conventional face-to-face courses. The article “E-Learning is Good for the Environment,” by Jenna Sweeney discusses this study and elaborates on the energy savings and benefits that are associated with eLearning.
"Consider the energy consumption that occurs whenever employees travel to attend training sessions, seminars, conventions and face-to-face meetings. Environmental impacts include fuel for transportation (plane, train, bus, car, taxi); electricity and water to launder sheets and towels; and gas and electricity for restaurants to cook meals. Imagine also the mounds of paper used for all the training manuals, brochures, business cards, and handouts that are distributed at these events. On top of it all, add in the rising costs of fuel and travel. Now consider the many eLearning formats that provide energy-saving alternatives….synchronous online classes and seminars, asynchronous e-courses, self-study programs, online collaboration (blogs and wikis), rapid e-Learning," (Sweeney p. 1).
Think about how many trees are being saved by eLearning. "Using online content, PDF manuals, synchronous classrooms, and other web-based tool…Factor in the resources required to manufacture paper, such as water, electricity, fuel, bleach, and other chemicals and you can really see the environmental benefits of online learning," (Sweeney p.1).
As the world evolves and technology advances there are additional resources that become available for mobile learning via audio and video blogs, web-based conferencing, handheld devices, video phones, iPods and MP3 players. Mobile Learning is becoming extremely popular and we will continue to see a decrease in energy consumption and an increase in technological changes allowing richer content over smaller devices. Over the past year, mySmartSim has seen a huge difference with online training. They have increased their clientele by 100%, due to eLearning being more cost effective than face-to-face training.