SrINGAPORE - Trainer Linda Ng often struggles to find time to take every question or discuss topics at great depth during her classes. That is why the 36-year-old is thinking of using e-learning tools such as podcasts and videos to facilitate greater communication with her students, who in turn conduct skills-upgrading courses for workers.

Adult educators like Ms Ng will soon get help in learning to use e-learning tools, with the launch next year of free massive open online courses developed by the Government's training body, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).

Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said on Thursday that the courses are meant to familiarise trainers with learning online and use e-learning tools.

This will help them to engage tech-savvy workers who like e-learning for being "flexible, mobile and efficient", he said at an adult educators' conference.

He said there is potential to get more trainers to embrace technology: only about half of WDA courses are currently conducted through a mix of e-learning and classroom teaching.