Online training is the art of knowledge transfer through the internet, from anywhere globally to targeted audiences who choose to learn a particular subject. There are plenty of self-proclaimed "travel and tourism schools," but few get it right. Why?
Most exist to assert someone's expertise or lure unsuspecting people in for an up-sell, not actually to train, educate, and empower people. This is why The Tourism Academy's Instructor Success team and Advisory Panel exist - to ensure we provide transformative, engaging, and accessible training that makes a real difference.
Through The Tourism Academy, students earn certificates of completion for each course they successfully finish. Organizations can offer their own Certification and Accreditation programs, saving both time and money with ready-built courses, intuitive design, and Instructional Designers on hand.
Here are a few advantages of online training that showcase how it helps improve a company's bottom line and the employee's life:
Technology demands newer updates and faster systems all the time. This can only be achieved with constant training and learning. Travel agents and tourism suppliers working a 9-5 job and pursuing courses may seem tiring if you have to go to a training center before or after work. Sometimes, going to the training center may rob your weekends and free time. Online training courses for hospitality can be taken anytime, anywhere. The only requirement would be an internet connection. Making time during your coffee breaks at work, sitting on your couch and taking online courses instead of watching television, and listening to audio/video files while traveling to and from work are some ways online training courses can be taken up. This ensures flexibility in terms of time and effort.
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A place that has an internet connection is a place to take advantage of. Online training and eLearning would require a traditional registration process, followed by a user login page, but now, since browsers are available on phones, tablets, and laptops, online courses are not only restricted to desktops; courses from The Tourism Academy are configured to all types of devices. I am considering taking a course while traveling. Empower your tour guides and directors on the go... eLearning is now in your pockets!
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With all these physical copies of books, notes, and professors handling courses, traditional software training courses demand a high price for certifications and course completion. Alternatively, eBooks and notes are permanently saved in your hard drive for online training. Certificates are provided online, in printable and digital format, with course completion recognition that can be shared on job-posting websites, social media, and more. Reference videos, course materials, and examination scores are saved and can be viewed multiple times with no limit. Online courses are highly cost effective and can be utilized efficiently.
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Meeting different people and joining forums continues beyond social media sites. People with the same interests or learning goals may join a community that interacts effectively, exchanging questions, doubts, and ideas. Participating in such groups may offer a more detailed insight into where the course leads.
Professional educators and eLearning customer support always want to help and motivate students. Online course trainers can be emailed and interacted with when students have questions; chat support is almost always available on online learning portals.
Online assessments test the ability to understand topics without the pressure of taking an actual exam. Some assessments can also be retaken and reconsidered if students are unsatisfied with their scores. Properly justified and marked, online assessments bring a fair scoring system that helps online students evaluate their understanding of a given subject.
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In a fast-moving world, almost everything is readily accessible. Downloadable online notes, online support, online interaction, training videos that can be replayed, and assessments/quizzes that can be taken anytime during the course help professionals learn better and faster. The more accessible courses are reached, the easier for professionals to achieve their goals.
Online courses help trainees retain and remember information with attractive images, videos, legible fonts, movie clips, animated descriptions, and more. Real-life examples are also given to explain concepts better. They display information well-crafted, leading to a better understanding of learning content than taking notes with pen and paper. Face-to-face instructor-led training can force trainees to deviate from topics because of long lectures, where speech is the primary mode of communication.
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Providing constructive criticism through quizzes allows trainees to understand where they stand regarding knowledge. Multiple-choice and open-ended questions prepare students better for taking an exam. Automated corrections like “wrong answer” and “right answer” allow trainees to go back and correct themselves when wrong. This saves time and effort compared to unit tests, where the papers are sent to the professor to correct errors and give the final grade. Learn about the Tourism Academy.
Traditional in-person training requires lots of resources to gather people, provide them with accommodation, bring in the trainer(s), and repeat until everyone has been taught. Online learning uses up to 90% less energy and creates 85% less CO2 emissions than traditional models. Sustainability is what we practice. Tourism Academy sponsors receive recognition for their contributions to our sustainability model.
Some people prefer face-to-face training, while others may prefer online training. According to the American Society for Training and Development, nearly one-third of all eLearning content and material is available and pursued online. Online training is undoubtedly a huge cost saver for organizations and individuals, as only certification courses come with a high price tag compared to free online courses. Utilizing the internet to improve your skills is the ultimate way to climb up the success ladder, as the best investment you can make is investing in yourself.