What is self-paced learning? Meaning explained

What is self-paced learning?

Self-paced learning means you can learn in your own time and schedule. You don’t need to complete the same assignments or learn at the same time as others. You can proceed from one topic or segment to the next at your speed.

Classroom settings have been more popular than self-paced learning where employees could study on their own. Recently, self-paced instruction has become more popular as education shifts from the traditional models to the Internet.

The main advantages of self-paced learning

Self-paced learning comes with several advantages that can enhance the performance of the employees. Here are some main benefits [1]:

No pressure, more retention

There is no pressure to complete the assignments

Self-paced learning removes the time pressure that exists during live training. There’s no pressure to complete the assignments and learn at the same speed as others. No one needs to pretend that they understood something that they didn’t. Instead, they can review the material on their own. A study published in the Journal of Memory and Language indicated that self-paced learning might also increase retention [2].

Setting your own schedule

Self-paced learning enables employees to create their schedules. It is especially helpful for participants that have other tasks and can’t attend a live class or training. Even if there is a deadline to complete a course, for example, they can choose how and when they take it.

Possibly less distraction

It takes self-discipline

When employees create their learning schedules, they can study when they can focus best. They can pick when they have fewer interruptions from colleagues or other tasks. Of course, it takes self-discipline to accomplish that. They will need to tune out distractions at home and ignore their phones.

Suitable for different learning styles

People have different learning styles. Some people learn fast, while others take their time. People who prefer to complete the material quickly should not have to wait for others. Self-paced learning makes it possible for your participants to adapt to their different learning styles.

How can you apply self-paced learning to your organization?

Online tools help you apply self-paced learning to your organization. They enable you to create and host training materials that employees can access at their convenience. You can even record in-person training sessions and publish them online.

The money spent on a learning management system will save your company lots of money and time

Setting up a day or more of training takes up a lot of company resources. An online training academy where all your training materials come together is a better solution. All the material will be available with just a few clicks. You can add deadlines to the material, but your employees can still learn at their own pace and on their own schedule.

The money spent on a learning management system will save your company lots of money and time. You will get more knowledgeable employees and customers in the end as well.

Is self-paced learning possible with Easy LMS?

It’s easy to create and share different types of tests and courses with our LMS. We provide sharing methods for self-paced consumption. You can simply share the link to your material, publish it on your website, or invite participants securely by email. If you want, you can set a time frame for them to complete the task. There is also an option to give participants multiple attempts at a task.

Participants can choose to take their training from their smartphones and outside of work hours. After that, you can review their results and statistics and learn how you can improve your training materials.

Self-paced learning resolves scheduling issues and allows participants to learn at their own pace. To sum things up: it is a solution to many problems 😀!

Useful resources

1. NCBI
2. E-learning Industry

Frequently Asked Questions