Top 5 Corporate eLearning Trends To Enrich Your Online Training Strategy

You need a corporate eLearning program that improves workplace efficiency, increases employee retention rates, and capitalizes on modern technology. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by staying on top of eLearning trends. In this article, I’ll share the top 5 corporate eLearning trends you may want to consider in order to enrich your online training strategy.

Your organization is working with limited resources, which means that every online training initiative needs to live up to expectations. Skills must be developed and tasks must be streamlined if you want to improve your company’s ROI. With the right eLearning authoring tools and some valuable online training insights, you can give your employees the experience they need at a price you can afford. Here are the top 5 corporate eLearning trends that you should consider adding to your online training program.

1. Microlearning

It’s quick, convenient, and prevents cognitive overload. Microlearning consists of bite-sized online training activities that can be completed in a matter of minutes. Employees who need to know how to complete a task simply access the 5-minute eLeanring scenario or interactive tutorial and watch every step.

In decades past, training was a lengthy process that involved lectures, role plays, and printed manuals. Today, corporate eLearning makes online training engaging and immersive. Employees have the opportunity to receive online training when it suits their schedule. They can participate in a serious game while their sitting in a waiting room. A client needs more information about a product? No problem! The sales person can explore the features and specs via a 2-minute online presentation. Also, bear in mind that microlearning can be either used as a complimentary online training strategy, or a stand-alone solution!

2. Personalized Online Training Paths

Modern corporate learners want online training experiences that are just for them. “Cookie-cutter” online training courses won’t cut it when it comes to talent development. Thus, personalized online training paths are becoming more and more prevalent. These paths allow employees to select their own online training activities, assessments, and goals. They are able to go at their own pace and focus on objectives that matter most to them.

Every member of your staff has the power to build skills and practice tasks that they need for their job duties. For example, customer service staff can concentrate on return processes, while your IT staff can work on troubleshooting. Personalized online training also involves customized online training feedback, as well as performance evaluations. Employees who are struggling are able to access supplemental online training activities. On the other hand, your top performers can skip ahead and get the targeted information they need.

3. Just-In-Time Online Training

There are times when your employees need information right away. Just-in-time online training allows them to expand their knowledge round-the-clock. They can get the answers to important questions and focus on specific skills in order to improve their performance. Microlearning and just-in-time online training typically go hand-in-hand. This is due to the fact that “moment of need” support is best in small doses.

Employees don’t have time to sit through a half-hour lecture when they’re troubleshooting a problem or helping a customer. Conduct workplace observations and performance evaluations to pinpoint problematic areas. Then use this information to create effective online training support material. For example, if your employees are struggling through a procedure, a task-based online training simulation may be in order.

4. Multiplatform-Friendly Online Training Content

Modern employees are looking for online training that travels with them. They need to make the most of every minute, and multiplatform-friendly online training content is accessible anywhere, anytime. Your distributed sales team can view product knowledge online courses and build their skills via their tablets or smartphones. Your local staff is able to participate in branching scenarios and online training simulations with their office laptops. Everything is right there at their fingertips, so that they can improve their productivity around the globe.

Consider using a responsive design tool to make your online training content multiplatform-friendly. Simply create a master version of your online training course, and the system automatically shifts the layout based on the device. For example, a larger image may appear at the top of the screen for PC users. However, corporate learners on smartphones and tablets will see a smaller image at the bottom of the screen. This is because different resolutions and screen orientations call for different layouts. Mobile devices have smaller displays, which means that the key takeaways have greater prominence than supporting images.

5. Gamification And Serious Games

These two corporate eLearning trends are often mistaken for one another and mentioned interchangeably. In reality, they are similar but not the same. Serious games are much like traditional online games, but they also have an educational value. Gamification blends online training course design with game mechanics. For example, employees must pass an online assessment in order to earn badges or progress to the next level. Other rewards may also come into play, such as points and leaderboard recognition.

Both game-based online training approaches help to motivate employees and provide them with added incentive. This makes them ideally suited for certification and compliance online training courses. Intrinsic motivation is always the ultimate goal. But these extrinsic motivators can fill the gap until the internal rewards kick in. Just make sure that the incentives aren’t the ONLY reason your employees are participating. There are a variety of eLearning authoring tools that feature serious game templates, mechanics, and other online resources to simplify the process. Therefore, you don’t need to have any prior graphic or game designing experience to create interactive online training courses.

Successful corporate eLearning courses put the employee first. This is because happy and self-confident employees are the lifeblood of your company, and your success hinges on their expertise. Of course, the business goals and objectives must lay the foundation. However, employees should also have the opportunity to customize their online training experience. That is the key to an effective corporate eLearning program now and in the future.

Wondering whether your organization REALLY has room in the budget for online training? Read the article Can Your Organization Afford Online Training? 5 Major Costs Involved to learn about the 5 major costs involved in online training so that you can create an accurate online training budget.