Computer-assisted learning is a very powerful alternative
to more traditional approaches, but may not be appropriate
in all cases. CBT development costs are higher than instructor-led
courses, but delivery costs are much lower. Thus, CBT becomes
more cost-effective as the number of students increases
even though they may be geographically dispersed.
CBT is almost always the best choice even for a small,
local student population if consistency of message, easy
review of material, timing of training, and availability
of instructors are significant factors.
Advantages of the CBT for both programs and students are
typically realized in the following:
Cost savings: CBT avoids the expense and
loss of work involved in traveling to a central location
for training.
Timesavings: Studies show that CBT typically
reduces the time required to learn material by 40-60 percent
when compared to instructor-led courses.
Just-in-time learning: The time delay between
the end of a scheduled class and the student's first opportunity
to use what they have learned results in a reduction in
retained knowledge. A standalone CBT course allows the student
to take the course when it is needed and put the new knowledge
to work immediately. This results in reinforcement of what
has been learned and greatly increases long-term retention.
Persistence of learning: Studies show that
students typically retain twice as much information from
a CBT course that covers the same material as an instructor-led
course. This is due to the intense interaction inherent
in the CBT format, the ability to move through the material
at the student's own pace and the ability to review material
as many times as required.
Convenience: The ability to take the course
as time permits, instead of arranging the student's activities
around a class schedule, is a major advantage.
Availability for review and reference:
CBT courses include search tools built into the program
that make them fast and efficient reference sources.
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