Get the most from e-learning while courses are on hold
While COVID 19 has temporarily put a stop to many classroom-based courses, now is a fantastic time to up-skill online.
With so many how-to blogs and videos out there to learn from, there’s no excuse to put your development on hold.
We caught up with our very own Product Sales Training & Customer Education Manager, Jason Dunn. He gave us his tips on going online to learn new skills and supplement your Salon Services course learning.
Why you need to be e-learning
E-learning is a fun, flexible and convenient way to improve your skills as a beauty professional.
It’s also a way to stay on top of new trends and make sure you’re one step ahead of your competition!
Jason says, “You can do it anywhere and everywhere. All you need is a phone or a laptop to brush up on your hair and beauty skills. You can also fit your learning around your lifestyle - do it on the bus to work or after the kids have gone to bed. It gives you total freedom.”
You may benefit from e-learning in particular if you struggle with a classroom environment. There’s no need to worry about your mind wandering and missing something your instructor has said - with e-learning you can always go back and repeat something.
“You can do it anywhere and everywhere. All you need is a phone or a laptop to brush up on your hair and beauty skills.”
What e-learning can’t do
For its many advantages, e-learning is not the perfect solution and should not be used in place of accredited classroom courses. So why not think of it as a way to supplement your learning and to further develop as a hair and beauty professional.
“You cannot get accreditation in a new beauty treatment without having attended a classroom course,” Jason says. “An instructor needs to witness you demonstrating what you have learned for you to be signed off. Remember, you need to be accredited in a treatment to get the appropriate business insurance.”
Staying motivated while e-learning
Staying motivated while e-learning can be tricky. Jason’s top tip is to limit your learning time to bite-sized 45-minute chunks. Any longer than that and your mind is likely to start wandering.
“Work at your own pace,” Jason says. “Don’t try to rush through a million things in that 45 minutes as you probably won’t keep the information in your head!”
Keep focused
Be business-like in your learning. For those 45 minutes, make it your sole activity and switch off any distractions (including your phone!)
Also, treat it like you’re in a real classroom. If you’re watching a hair tutorial on YouTube, have a manikin training headwith you so you can practice while you observe. This kind of tactile learning is far more effective.
Jason says, “Learn about what you love. I find many pros in the industry spend a lot of time trying to improve skills and treatments that they don’t enjoy because they think it makes business sense. But find what treatments you love doing and excel at them.”
What you can do while waiting for courses to start
Due to COVID-19 we are not currently running any of our normal Salon Services training courses. So why not use this time to learn - or brush up on – all your basic skills. “Even if it’s been over 20 years since you learnt about hairtoning, it is a skill you use every day,” says Jason. “So, enhance your basic skillsets. Then when courses resume you’re set to learn all about the new on-trend treatments.”
Stay inspired
