How To Keep The Human Touch In eLearning

For many years, learning in schools was all done in the classroom, where one leader would impart/pass on their knowledge to the whole room. However, thanks to recent advancements in technology, we are now seeing the growth of a different type of learning - electronic learning or ‘eLearning’.

eLearning allows students and employees to learn or train using the internet as guidance. Different companies, like Hexis Plus for example, offer extensive training courses online where employees from around the world can log in and train.

However, with so many different options available it can be hard to know exactly what the most effective method is and how technology should best be utilised. It also raises an important question - how can training seem less robotic and maintain a more personal touch?

Today there are two main methods being used: ‘Blended Learning’ and ‘Flipped Learning,’ both of which enable businesses to benefit from the cost-effective models of eLearning whilst still benefiting from the human touch. No matter how far technology develops, we will always have a need for personal learning and these two methods take advantage of this. Blended Learning - This form of learning is very much a ‘best of both worlds’ method in that employees will take part in eLearning but also attend classrooms or face-to-face meetings. Blended Learning takes the benefits of each and compiles them all into one program. Whilst employees will have a chance to learn at their own pace online, they will also have a support network offline to push their learning even further.

The added benefit of Blended Learning for all involved parties is that it gives employees a chance to learn independently from a system. It also allows employers to benefit because they are trusting their workers to research online as well as continuing to provide a teacher, ensuring that they know all the important factors of the training. Many workers say that they learn better in a blended learning environment created by companies like Hexis Plus. Flipped Learning - This a type of learning that takes the traditional educating method and literally turns it on its head. For example, normally employees will learn all the basics face-to-face and then receive resources to explore the topics that were covered further in their own time. However, sometimes this isn't the most efficient method as remote workers do not have help at home. In response, Flipped Learning gives employees the ‘basics’ to undertake research  before a session and  then expand their knowledge base in class.

When implemented correctly, this method of learning can work extremely well as all the basics can be covered online, meaning that the valuable time spent face-to-face can be used more wisely. Since employees already know the basics, they can delve into more detail with a teacher by their side. This form of learning allows the business to make the most of their money with teaching in a room and allows for a personalised learning experience for their employees to benefit from. One of the problems with regular learning is that the classroom only covers the basics which leaves employees on their own for the more tricky topics but flipped learning removes this.

eLearning is becoming ever-more popular which makes sense as it is cost-effective and proven to work; though this doesn't mean that human contact has to be completely lost. It is all too easy to leave your employees in front of a computer but this can lead to a ‘recall mentality’ rather than a ‘recognise mentality’. Hexis Plus enables you to maximise the relationship between technology and the personal touch, meaning that your employee’s learning would increase quicker than ever.

Why All Businesses Need Blog

Like it or not, the internet has transformed much of the way that we live our lives – from socialising to shopping and to running our businesses. However, getting your business online is only half the battle, while a great social media profile and effective online portfolio may do the business well enough, there’s much to be said for long-term strategy.

Much of holding people's interest in your business is related to Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), which is concerned with ensuring that Google prioritises your website or online presence as much as possible in search listings. While the right keywords will often do the trick, for Google to really keep your head in the game, and for you to engage regularly with customers, you’re going to need a regular.

Blogging is a form of engagement with customers and clients that works on a very base level of communication. By writing and publishing regular blog posts on topics and news relevant to your business, you’re not only establishing that you’re active in your industry, but that you’re also an authority. As Jayson DeMers writes for Forbes, regular blogging actively humanises your brand while also generating regular interest and custom for you in the bargain.

Blogging for your business also shows that you care. Consumers are more likely to approach a business or brand that is regularly engaging with their customers, rather than one that only offers a cold, solitary storefront? In a day and age where customer engagement and accountability is more transparent than ever, it makes perfect sense to make the most out of the current online climate – if you’re running a business regularly, but barely do any blogging, it may be time to reconsider.

Top 6 Reasons To Use Blended Learning

Just in case you missed our previous blog post, Blended Learning is a formally structured educational programme where students use online course material combined with class-based teaching. As Blended Learning programmes take place both inside and outside the classroom, learners have greater freedom when it comes to how they plan, structure and carry-out their sessions - it’s easy to see why this type of teaching is becoming increasingly popular.

Here at Hexis Plus we think it’s great so let’s take a look at our top 6 reasons to use Blended Learning:

1) Keeps learners interested.
Blended Learning offers variety, private study, classroom teaching and the freedom to negotiate the course at whatever speed suits the learner. Students are far more likely to treat the learning process as a positive experience and not a restrictive chore. There is no “wrong” method to how the course is taken, the student is in control.

2) Personalisation of lessons.
Every student is different and blended learning Some learners may pick up information quickly using auditory skills,others might need to read material a few times to fully grasp a concept. Both types of learner are accommodated with Blended Learning and are subsequently empowered to reach their maximum learning capacity.

3) Data collection of a system.
Figures released by The eLearning Industry in 2015 showed that while 47% of teaching was still training room based in 2015 there has been a positive shift towards the adoption of Blended Learning. They’ve also found that 29.1% of training hours utilised Blended Learning in 2015, proving that more professionals are realising it’s valuable as an effective teaching method that maximises administrative efficiency and gathers real time data from all over the world.

4) Less admin, less paper.
The practicality of not having heaps of course material to lug around cannot be underestimated. Electronic devices are convenient, lightweight and user friendly. Learners are able to easily download teaching materials onto their device from any location, making Blended Learning extremely cost effective

5) Easier sharing of resources.
Many learners get distracted in a classroom setting when studying alongside their peers. This issue is partially removed by moving some of the learning experience online with blended learning. Online facilities make marking, sharing data confidentially and accessing course material easier.

6) Convenient and user friendly.
The convenient availability of a digital device that can be used for study at home, on the bus, in the car or stretched out on the sofa, away from peers, is a practical advantage offered by adaptive technology.


The hands on administration is minimal with the online section of Blended Learning, analytics are recorded with real time data and upload/downloads.

Here at Hexis Plus, the advantages of Blended Learning come as no real surprise, especially when you consider all it offers. We facilitate training to help with a smooth transition to Blended Learning and to allow students the best personal and technology based learning experience on the market.

Powerful Work Opportunities For Graduates

Hexis Plus, London’s premier learning and development company for tutors, is proud to announce that The First Annual London Tutoring Conference will be taking place on Saturday 3^rd September 2016 at Work.Life in London Fields. Running from 10am to 4pm, this event will be comprised of inspirational TED Talk style speakers from the education industry and interactive workshops covering everything from marketing and tutoring to leadership and management.

Technology from the Hexis Plus system, aimed at all types of educators, will also be made available and it is one of the most advanced learning management systems on the market, and will be given away free of charge to every ticket holder at the event. UES Tutoring London commented on the technology: “…After our trial we are now looking forward to using this [learning management system] in our upcoming training sessions…” and Hertsaid Charity reinforced this view by saying, “…This [learning management system] has a ton of features. You have got something very impressive here...”.

Hexis Plus aims to combine a passion for education with state of the art technology which, in turn, will bring prospective tutors and tutoring companies together - ultimately creating a new generation of learners. According to recent research from The Guardian newspaper, tutoring is a £6 billion industry with at least 44% of schoolchildren in London receiving private tuition, and a whopping 72% of all children who are prepping for Common Entrance exams using a private tutor. Through special events such as the upcoming London Tutoring Conference, Hexis Plus are recommending tutoring as either a long-term or short-term employment solution for recent graduates and, with the chance to charge as much as £58 an hour, tutoring can provide the job security and stability that many struggle to find. Tutoring companies will also receive a chance to pitch to their prospective clients at the conference, allowing both companies and tutors to network with each other.

Tickets for the first annual London Tutoring Conference are free and are available online here.

Current list of speakers and workshop leaders are: 

• Chris Jones - As a qualified coach, trainer and teacher, Chris founded his company, Hexis Plus, to accelerate the growth of tutoring companies and he will be introducing the event. He will then outline the reasons why students should consider the world of tutoring, discussing many topics including how private tutors can earn between £20-50k per year and how there are great career development prospects for enterprising graduates.He will also be launching some exciting new technology for educators that will be made complimentary to all those who attend.
• Adam Muckle - Adam is president of The Tutors' Association and aims to provide recognition for tutors, reassurance for parents and a responsible, representative voice for the tutoring profession in the UK. He will be speaking about his fascinating insights into the industry of tutoring and what the future holds for this fast growing profession.
• Kobi Omenaka - A London based marketing expert, Kobi works with small and medium Enterprises (SME). He will be delivering a workshop on marketing for graduates who want to go it alone as a tutor or tutoring companies that want tips for improvement. This superb session will give participants a set of tools to increase a tutoring client database.
• Jonny Baker - Jonny is an experienced coach from Worth It Projects who specialises in motivating children and young adults. Tutors often come up against mental walls with their students which impedes learning progress. Jonny will be providing tips and advice for tutors on breaking down a student's barriers and empowering them to success.
• Indira Ghatak - The prestigious Henrietta Barnet School benefited from Indira being a dedicated head of department for many years before she became a successful student mentor and educational author. She will be presenting an opportunity to be apart of her schools based study which coincides with the launch of her latest book, Success In Exam.
• David Mareels - Co-founder of Chiron Tutors, David runs an online marketplace for tutors and a tutor management system which helps private tutors run and manage their business more efficiently. He will be giving a speech on how to get into tutoring and the advantages of the profession.

Calling All Tutors & Recent Graduates!

How does a flexible, rewarding and very well-paid job sound to you in a fast growing and dynamic industry?

If this sounds like an opportunity you’d be interested in, we encourage you to come along to Hexis Plus’s London Tutoring Conference at the start of September! Featuring TED Talk style speakers covering a vast range of informative and fascinating topics, stalls and the chance to pitch to prospective clients, this really isn’t something to miss!

As London’s foremost training company when it comes to tutors, we’re extremely focused on connecting quality tutors and tutoring companies. Our event provides the perfect environment for this to happen!            

  

For those interested tutors/graduates out there wanting a ticket, please click here.

Likewise, if you run a tutoring company, please sign up using our company’s page, by clicking here.

Time:

Saturday, 3^rd September 2016, 10:00 – 16:00

Location:

Work.Life – 1E Mentmore Terrace, London, E8 3PN

The Top 6 Reasons Why Tutoring Is Better Than Teaching

Tutoring is becoming  increasingly popular with graduates and even teachers who are turning to tutoring to free themselves from the time and financial constraints that modern schools put them under.

Let’s have a look at why being a tutor is beneficial:

1)      Freedom

Tutoring takes place outside of the structured education system. Students can come to the tutor’s home or office or even work remotely via e-learning; there is absolutely no requirement to sit in an educational establishment to work. Additional flexibility is added when a tutor is able to work weekends, evenings and even bank holidays - hours that schools can’t offer.

2)   Specialist knowledge

A tutor’s sole focus on a certain subject area allows them to develop in-depth knowledge and insight on a subject they are passionate about. This exclusive focus on one subject area makes tutoring far more effective compared with a teacher who must split their focus between their different school responsibilities.

3)      Method adaptability

A tutor working on a one-to-one basis or with a small group has the time to focus and adapt their teaching style to the learners’ personality so they benefit the most from the learning process. Having more time to focus on individuals in a class delivers better results.

4)      Effective time management teaching

Some students work better with visual tools than auditory techniques. When a teacher faces this type of student in a classroom environment, few concessions can be made - even mixing styles still may not be sufficient for comprehensive learning. However, with tutoring, the teaching and learning process can be customised for the student to maximise enjoyment.

5)       Higher salary

The hourly rate is higher for a tutor than for a salaried teacher. A quick look at The Tutor Pages shows that fees are rising and peak at around £41 per hour (although tutors may charge more if they wish). London fees peaked at around £60, York at £40 and some tutors are charging upwards of £100 for highly specialised areas of work.

6)      Less stress

A tutor is self-employed with the freedom to make their workload as heavy or as light as they wish and to teach in the style that works well for them and their students. Although teaching offers job security, there is no guarantee that the job itself won’t work you into the ground. Tutoring offers freedom, variety and a comfortable teaching atmosphere.    

The Guardian newspaper reports that the proportion of tutored pupils has risen by more than a third over the past decade, from 18% in 2005 to 25% now. In London, 44% of pupils had private or home tuition last year, compared with 34% in 2005. This increased demand has allowed tutors to get more work.

So if you want to escape the pressures of formally managed employment as a teacher and find freedom in self-employment, then we here at Hexis Plus encourage you to take the rewarding leap into the tutoring industry.

Top 8 Online Learning Industry Jargon Demystified

The boom in online learning has led to the rise of a number of related terms. With so many terms it can be tricky to decipher and keep up with what they all mean. For this reason, we welcome you to Hexis Plus’s guide to understanding some of the jargon that is being used by eLearning companies around the world.

eLearning - It’s sensible to start with the term you will see the most. It’s very simple; just like email means electronic mail, eLearning means electronic learning. With bigger and better computer systems being announced every year and with the internet growing faster, some companies are now offering training courses online. This ‘eLearning’ is more cost-effective than regular learning and can also be quicker.  

LMS/LCMS - LMS stands for Learning Management System and LCMS stands for Learning Content Management System. An LMS is a system that a business uses to train their employees; these systems allow businesses to become administrators for their employee’s learning, as well as looking after documents and tracking the online course.

An LCMS is a place where experts can create, store and manage online content. This type of system will have many users as well as various authors and developers who will manage their own content. Therefore, the LCMS manages the content that will make its way onto the LMS.

Quick Stat: Around three-quarters of all companies currently use one form of LMS.

Distance Learning - Not everyone has the ability to attend a college every day and employees cannot always leave their place of work for a week to attend a course. As a result, ‘distance learning’ was created in order to allow these people to ‘learn from a distance’. People using this method will be provided with online tools to learn without having to attend face-to-face sessions.

Blended Learning - Although eLearning is a fantastic development, some companies still like to have the personal touch rather than forcing their employees in front of a computer all day to learn. In these situations, blended learning is used to create a mixture of online and offline learning.

Learning Automation - This term refers to the process of switching any training and learning from face-to-face to online. Just like a business might automate a section of the business, they can also stop bringing in external trainers and start purchasing online courses for their employees.

Flipped Learning - Typically, the basics of everything are taught on a course and then employees will be given resources to research further at home. However, flipped learning completely changes this and lets workers discover the basics online before going into more detail in a course. This method is said to yield better results because a trainer is available to help as more detail is attained.

OAuth - OAuth describes the method that allows internet users to login to a site using a third-party account. For example, some websites will offer users the chance to sign in using Facebook, Twitter, Google or Mail.

mLearning - As the years pass, we are seeing more and more mobile devices that can do just as much as a computer and mLearning looks to take advantage of this. Through mLearning, people have the opportunity to learn via their mobile and tablet devices,  allowing them to learn ‘on-the-go’. By 2017, it is thought that the mobile learning market will have grown to be worth over $12 billion.

So there we have it, eight seemingly difficult terms broken down into simple phrases. It is important that you get to know these words and definitions if you want to learn where the best options can be found and where the different types of learning are offered. Now, you should be in a stronger position to make better-informed decisions for you and your employees.