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5 Essential Elements for Online Training that Works for Businesses
October 29, 2021

Organizations across the globe continue to see disruption in traditional work patterns. New workplace trends have emerged, and organizations must be quick to adapt. One of these transitions is the shift to remote work, and it is here to stay. In a survey, 83% of employers reported that remote work has been successful for their company [1]. As organizations transition to permanent remote work, employee learning and development must follow suit.

The improved way to train employees is by using an online learning platform that works for your business. Using a cloud-based learning platform makes employee training more accessible, efficient, and effective. According to the Association for Talent Development, companies that offer comprehensive learning and training programs see a 218% increase in revenue per employee [2]. Your organization will see immediate results as your employees put their learning into practice.

This transition from in-person to virtual training is an easy shift for employees.  Nearly half of America’s workforce is made up of digital-native millennials, who switch their attention across media types an average of 27 times per hour” [3]. Your tech-savvy employees will quickly pick up on virtual learning, similar to how they rapidly adapted to using Zoom and other remote work tools. Harnessing the back-and-forth nature of the modern learner allows learning to happen on their time.

Best Practices of Business Learning

Organizations can scour the planet for the best and brightest talent to help them succeed, but this comes at a high cost. Nearly 80% of manufacturers report struggling to fill open positions [4]. Instead, businesses can save money, cut costs, and increase profit by creating a learning program for their existing workforce. Creating a successful learning and development program that leads to continuous learning is easier than you might think. Let’s look at the best practices of business learning.

Learning has shifted from lecturing to creating, acquiring, and transferring knowledge in a way that changes employees’ behavior to reflect what they have learned [3]. To drive innovation and results from learning, businesses must realize the cogitative demands that are currently vying for learners’ attention. A significant problem for many learners is cognitive overload. “Cognitive overload happens when the amount of mental effort required to complete a learning exercise exceeds a person’s cognitive ability” [5].  To avoid cognitive overload, learning programs should provide knowledge to employees in small, digestible pieces. In return, this will allow for improved processing of information, leading to successful training outcomes.

It is also important to create a learning program that will excite employees about new information related to their career. According to a PwC survey, “employees are looking for chances to upskill, with 77% of employees saying they are ready to learn new skills or completely retrain” [3]. The education you provide employees must apply to their jobs, geared toward their growth, and allow them to try it out for themselves. Positive learning experiences show improvement and create motivation for learners to improve.

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Launching a learning and development program on your own may seem overwhelming. However, partnering with a company that designs and develops online professional training programs allows your business to remain focused on what you do best. With new learning and development opportunities, your employees will receive a world-class educational experience, and your investment will pay off. When selecting an online learning provider, look for these five essential elements:

  1. Engagement: Is the user engaged in the learning process? They must participate in the learning activities and understand that what is being taught has an elevated level of relevance in their work.
  1. Relevance: Employees must understand why they should invest their time in the learning topics. Key objectives and understanding of what constitutes proficiency add to employees’ understanding and ultimate buy-in.
  1. Assessment: Each assessment of understanding needs to support and encourage learners. Providing various opportunities to apply the knowledge learned will reinforce new teachings and provide a chance for feedback.
  1. Ease of Use: With a large and diverse group of learners, your program must be accessible, intuitive, and simple. Learning does not need to be over-complicated, and a direct teaching method allows the learner to focus on the material and not the interface.
  1. Partner with a Professional Learning Program Provider: Businesses have enough to focus their attention on. Checking in on training does not improve your bottom line, so leave the training in the hands of a trusted partner who has your best interest at heart.
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The future success of your business is reliant on the learning and development platforms and programs you set in place today. Ensure that your employees are prepared with the skillsets needed to excel in their positions and improve your bottom line.

Sources:

[1] https://amesite.com/blogs/our-digitalized-workplaces-how-to-build-engagement/

[2] https://partners.pennfoster.edu/blog/2021/january/why-upskilling-is-essential-to-recovery-in-2021

[3] https://proedge.pwc.com/resources/how-to-build-a-learning-mindset-and-unleash-innovation

[4] https://amesite.com/blogs/transformation-of-manufacturing-industries/

[5] Steiner, Meghan. “5 Essential Elements of an Effective and Efficient Training Program.” Richardson Sales Performance, December 15, 2016. https://www.richardson.com/blog/effective-online-training-program/.

[6] Prasad, RK. “Back to Basics: 5 Essential Elements of Effective e-Learning.” Main, August 11, 2016. https://www.td.org/insights/back-to-basics-5-essential-elements-of-effective-e-learning.