E-Learning, Webinars, Online consulting - general discussion

Hi all

I would like to start a general discussion around the need for and success of e-Learning, webinars and online consulting in Food Safety and related subjects.  There is no doubt that traditional class room learning, as we know it, is on its way out.    I am doing a bit of research on training and consulting solutions for rural areas where huge distances and lack of funding are considerations (think Africa for instance). 

Who, in your opinion, offers the best online training courses in international standards such as BRC and FSSC 22000?  How interactive should such a course be?  Real time (consistent wifi may be a problem) or downloadable (huge data costs)? 

For those who have taken such courses - what do you prefer - flipping through slides or listening to a voice-over?

Is there anyone out there that has had a measure of success with online consulting?  

Does anyone have had any interesting experiences in a rural setting that they would like to share?

Kind regards.

Hi Juliette

An intersting request, I was particularly interested by 

There is no doubt that traditional class room learning, as we know it, is on its way out

Part of our business is face to face training and teaching especially food safety and HACCP from L2 to L4

​Rather than a decline we have seen an increase in face to face training especially from clients who have used e-learning in the past

​Their concern is mentioned in your post above

what do you prefer - flipping through slides

They have found exactly that staff flip through slides with an objective of getting to the end as quickly as possible and as a result not really learning very much

We are seeing clients who have undertaken L2 food safety training now putting their staff through a face to face course with us

Interactive face to face training, when available, is generally much more effective.

In some regions this is not going to be practical and e learning offers an alternative

rgds