Training Employees Through eLearning: How To Ensure Its Success
In any organization, no two employees learn the same way. Everyone has a different style and process of acquiring information. Some learn by reading, some by attending lectures or hands-on workshops, some by watching videos, and some by listening to podcasts and audiobooks. The mode in which each individual’s brain perceives and stores information is different.
When your organization has individuals of varied ages, experiences, preferences, and cultures, how do you ensure everyone gets access to organizational training that interests and engages them? If you stick to just one method such as plain eLearning courses with text and images, people might find themselves at a loose end and won’t be able to benefit fully from the training program.
Now imagine if you could combine the strengths of different delivery formats and package it as one learning program. The good news is that you can—with the effective use of eLearning. A digital learning program allows us to include a little bit of everything from the different knowledge transfer methods available.
A good instructional strategy incorporates such engaging elements to attract and retain learners’ interest, to facilitate sturdy knowledge transfer and longer retention. Let’s explore some engaging elements that can be included in eLearning courses, using which you can create a training program that finds takers among a heterogeneous group of employees.
Video-Based Modules
The video is one of the most effective forms of knowledge transfer available in the digital medium. By using a combination of graphics, voiceovers, text, music, and live images, you can create a compelling learning asset. Just a single view of a video is enough to convey even the most complex of topics, easily and effectively.
Since videos do a great job at breaking down complex topics, learners can view them at the point of need, to complete tasks. As the video has traditionally been considered as a medium of entertainment, using it can also rope in learners who are not too interested in overly formal organizational training.
Gaming And Gamification Content
This is perhaps the most interactive form of learning in the digital medium. This involves creating fully playable games or adding gaming elements such as scores and leaderboards in your learning modules. Learners get to learn by experimenting, which makes it very engrossing. Playing games is a lot of fun too. Learners who easily lose interest can be kept engaged using this Instructional Design method.
Scenario-Based Learning
Many times, it so happens that learners fail to correlate what is taught in the course with how it is going to be put to use in real life. With scenario-based learning, you can change this by giving your employees the exact picture of your working environment. Using characters, dialogues, backgrounds, and sound effects, you can develop an immersive atmosphere, that mimics the learners’ actual work environment or situations they are likely to encounter. Such a method engages employees who prefer learning on the job.
Microlearning Modules
Due to demanding work constraints, it may be possible that many of your employees simply won’t have extended periods of time to undertake lengthy training programs. Microlearning modules can be created for such learners to give them quick nuggets of knowledge. Such modules just convey a single topic comprehensively, without having to depend on other modules. Your time-starved employees can undertake such training from anywhere they want on their mobile devices if the course is responsive as well.
Multilingual Courses
In a global organization, language constraints can play a major role in meaningful knowledge transfer. Although many organizations use English as the medium of official communication, it is not necessary that employees would prefer learning through English too.
That’s why it is a good idea to translate your eLearning courses into the native languages of your employees, according to the scope of your business. By giving your employees the option to learn in their preferred language, you not only increase the rate of knowledge transfer but also establish your brand image as a market leader.
Images And Infographics
Using images and infographics instead of plain text can greatly add to the appeal of your eLearning course. It gives your learners a nice ‘visual treat’ in their learning efforts. This helps learners who have an aversion to reading loads of plain text. Images can create meaningful mnemonics in the minds of your employees, assisting them greatly when it comes to recollecting the information provided.
So, as discussed, the versatility of eLearning makes it appealing to a wide learner profile. A well-designed eLearning program can technically fulfill all the different learning needs of your employees. Get ready to create an impactful course!
