The Main Challenge with eLearning

E-learning continues to grow in popularity because it proves to be the most effective training method with the best return on investment.

The Benefits of e-Learning

It saves time
E-learning modules take up 40-60% less employee time than traditional, in-person training sessions (Brandon-Hall). E-learning can be accessed online from any location, so employees can cut time for their commutes and can shorten the training day as a whole. Both of these time-saving benefits enable employees to put their new knowledge into practice faster, producing better results in a shorter amount of time.

It supports employees
Go2HR found that 40% of employees leave within their first year if they don’t get adequate training; e-learning supports employee learning to reduce turnover and improve employee engagement. E-learning also has the ability to better address employee needs. For example, it is easy to build the e-learning modules in multiple languages and to add features that support those with disabilities.

It makes a company more money
After introducing e-learning, each employee generated 26% more revenue for its company in an Adobe study. Many other case studies have found that companies save millions of dollars after switching to e-learning platforms. Furthermore, every $1 invested in e-learning equals a $30 increase in productivity (IBM).

The Main Challenge with eLearning
Despite the advantages of eLearning software, there is one main disadvantage:

You don’t know who’s taking the training.

Generally, eLearning utilizes a two-step identification proxy wherein the trainee enters his or her username and password. However, there are two reasons this verification is not sufficient:

1. Users can share login information.
2. An employee can log in but not actually engaged with the content.

Both of these activities mean the employee is not learning the material, and as a result, the company may see an increase in preventable accidents, injuries, and fines.

When no one is present to proctor a training, users feel more comfortable engaging in deceitful behavior. Managers want to believe that this lack of integrity doesn’t apply to their teams, but the research shows that everyone is affected by a lack of integrity with online learning systems. In fact, Onlinecollege.org found that 73% of its students engaged in “deceit” when participating in e-learning activities compared to 53% of students who engaged in “deceit” in the traditional learning setting.

What should a company do to ensure due diligence and process integrity during training sessions?

The Solution: Virtual Proctoring
Reap the benefits of eLearning while reinforcing honest behavior with Virtual Proctoring, a patent-pending identification verification application. It is a non-invasive line of code that integrates biometrics into your current e-learning software to run automatically.

Companies all over the world use biometric technology, which utilizes fingerprints and/or facial recognition software to verify the identity of a user. This technology is private, secure, and customizable. With Integrity Advocate, personal details are gathered using 256-bit encryption the same method used by major financial institutions.

Here’s how Virtual Proctoring works:

1. The user logs into the e-learning platform.
2. The user grants permissions to the application for webcam and microphone use during the training.
3. The user takes a photo of him- or herself with the webcam, and then holds up his or her government-issued photo identification card for a second webcam photo.
4. The application compares both photos using biometrics to verify the identity of the user.
5. The user reads and agrees to the participant agreement.
6. At this point, a button appears in a non-intrusive place on the screen to let the user know that the Integrity Advocate application is on.
7. The application uses random webcam checks to confirm that the same user is present throughout the session.
8. In addition, the webcam looks for unethical behavior during the training such as disengagement or illegal activity.
9. Finally, a human reviewer checks the processes and flagged activities to ensure quality and confirm instances of fraud.

Research shows that when employees know they are being watched, they are less likely to participate in cheating or deceit. Virtual Proctoring not only catches bad behavior; it also deters employees from engaging in it in the first place.

Learn More
For more information about how Virtual Proctoring will improve the effectiveness of your training program, download this white paper!