How To Create Winning Online Training Certification Courses For Remote Employees
Online training certification courses are usually more valued than standard online training experiences. Corporate learners have something tangible to show for their efforts, and this motivates them. Often, the physical evidence, in form of an online training certificate, functions as a key to new levels of income and opportunity. These include raises and promotions. However, your online training certification course must be recognizable and attainable. Employees must have the ability to pursue and complete it on their own, with no access to your physical office premises. Their experience will be virtual, but their online training certification must be as valid as that of in-person corporate learners. Here are 6 top tips to create winning online training certification courses for your remote employees.
Tips To Motivate And Inspire With eLearning Certifications
1. Make Online Training Certifications Convenient And Easily Accessible
Remote employees fall into multiple categories. They might have a smaller satellite office they report to, or they may telecommute from their homes. Therefore, they need the kind of online training course they can take with them. Design an online training certification course that can be accessed by mobile phone or tablet. While online training requires internet connection as a matter of course, ensure yours has an offline component. This lets corporate learners study even when they’re out of internet range. They can still log on to download learning materials or do test modules. Still, structure the bulk of your online training course so that it doesn’t need a live web connection. Also, design it in manageable chunks so corporate learners can study at their preferred pace.
You should also consider translating the online training course into relevant languages or embedding an automatic translation tool. If your online training course is specifically designed for remote teams, make it relevant. Use contextual scenarios that apply to field work, not office work. Use examples from their "base stations" not from HQ.
2. Apply Big Data
The only contact you will have with corporate learners is in-course, so gather as much Big Data as you can. Build metrics and analytics systems into your online training course. This way, your corporate learners are constantly offering you feedback, even though they may not know it. Look at units that employees seem to be drudging through or assessments that many of them are failing. Consistently adjust and improve the online training course, offering real-time updates as part of the package. Keep in mind that remote workers may be in a different region or locality. Your research will tell you exactly who you’re developing the online training course for.
3. Assign Homework
While online learners can study at their own pace and schedule, you want them to retain their lessons. This means they should be thinking about their studies even when they’re not "in class". Assignments allow them to do this. They can apply their virtual lessons, but they also have their course content running in the background of their daily activities. Make assignments as contextual, work-related, and reality-based as possible. Limit the abstract. It’s a good idea to make homework assignments collaborative. Even though corporate learners aren’t physically proximate, they can still bond and work together, enhancing staff cohesion. They can work together using web video conferencing tools, in-course chat rooms, or social media. Their work tools can be repurposed for homework needs.
4. Add Some Fanfare
A formal completion ceremony motivates corporate learners and gives them something to look forward to. As much as employees learn at their own pace, you can have grand events once or twice a year to award their online training certifications. It can be a good opportunity for team members to mingle online, which charts a clear growth path and career trajectory. For example, they all attend the annual "certification gala" via web conferencing software. Another great way to add some fanfare to the online training certification course is to incorporate gamification elements. Such as special rewards for employees who earn the most certificates or leaderboards that allow them to track their performance and fuel friendly competition.
5. Clarify Criteria So That Employees Can Focus On The Finish Line
Employees should know what’s involved in the online training certification course and how they’re expected to participate. For example, which online training activities they must complete before taking the final exam. This allows them to track their own progress and break the long-term goal into smaller milestones. Such as individual tasks or modules they need to complete to meet the requirements and display their proficiency. They’re able to set their own completion timeline, which gives them added felicity. However, they must tick off all the items on the certification checklist to reach the finish line.
6. Get Employees Involved In The eLearning Development Process
Invite employees to share their thoughts regarding which topics to cover in your online training certification program and how to evaluate their performance. For example, which skills do they need to acquire to improve workplace productivity? Which gamification rewards tap into their source of motivation and align with their personality traits? Get them actively involved in the eLearning design and development process to personalize the online training experience.
Conclusion
Online training sessions are ideal for remote workers, but you need extra care for online training certificates to be valuable and valid. Tailor your online training certification course to the specific work requirements and training location of your corporate learners. Keep it concise and relevant. Incorporate data collection tools, analyze them, and implement findings. Issue assignments to help learner recall, and to apply lessons learned to daily work life. Hold a virtual graduation for everyone at your head office. It brings your team together in multiple useful ways.
Does your LMS allow you to implement and manage online training certifications? Use our free online directory to find the right LMS for online training certification courses.
