1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. How learning Bursts Support Attention and Memory
Arrow

9 Secrets to Improve Online Training

  1. Pen Christopher Pappas
  2. Calendar October 3, 2017

How to Increase Employee Involvement in Online Training

The key to online training success is pursuing professional growth with passion. Employees must not only be aware of the online training tools available to them, but they must also know how to use these tools to bridge personal gaps and achieve their goals. The question is, what does it take to spark excitement and motivation among your audience? Here are 9 tips and tricks to increase employee involvement in online training.

1. Gamification

You might be surprised by the effectiveness of badges, points, and other game mechanics. It doesn’t require a gift card or monetary reward to increase employee involvement. In most cases, intangible incentives are enough to boost active participation and get them excited about the online training process. Conduct surveys and polls to gauge their personal preferences and goals. Then use the data to choose rewards that cater to their interests, needs, and desired performance behaviors.

2. Social Media Groups

People typically enjoy social interactions.

People typically enjoy social interactions. They like to engage in online discussions with peers and see things from a different viewpoint. As such, social media groups are a great way to increase employee involvement in online training. Set up a closed social media group where they can share their thoughts and ideas freely. You can even post questions and topics to break the ice. Then chime in from time to time to keep the conversation on track. Online discussions and corporate eLearning blogs are also ideal social learning tools.


3. Serious Games

Serious games add fun and excitement to your online training course. Employees may even look forward to defeating foes and advancing to the next level. Most importantly, serious games enlighten as they entertain. Players must use their skills and knowledge to successfully complete the quests. Every level is an opportunity to master a task or apply their newfound skills. It’s a chance to prove to themselves that they have what it takes, which can be a powerful motivator in and of itself.

4. Microlearning Online Training Library

There are a lot of training topics to cover and so little time. In fact, employees may be overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of skills and information they still need to explore. However, a microlearning online training library breaks it down into easily digestible bites. They can use this online training repository to improve their understanding at their own pace. It’s also a great just-in-time online training tool that employees can access on the job. They are more likely to participate when it’s convenient and customized. A microlearning online training library delivers the information they need when they need it.

5. Online Training Webinars

Live online training events are interactive and engaging. Employees are able to ask questions and communicate directly with the host, as well as other participants. This can reduce feelings of isolation that are sometimes associated with asynchronous online training. Choose your topic and schedule the online training webinar well in advance. Then record the session for those who are unable to attend. You can even survey employees to see which topics they’d enjoy for future sessions.

6. Employee Feedback System

Feedback is an essential part of the online training process. Employees must have a stake in online training. They have to know that their ideas carry weight within your organization. Conduct surveys, focus groups, evaluations, and interviews to gather as much online training feedback as possible. Focus on online training pain points that you’ve discovered through LMS reports and performance assessments. Then use the data to continually improve your online training strategy.

7. Manager Involvement

Employees are more likely to participate when the manager takes the lead and sets an example. Give team leaders the resources they need to facilitate online training among their subordinates. For example, online training tutorials that offer tips on how to use the Learning Management System, or social media groups where they can gather online and share tips and tricks. You can also invite managers to host their own online training webinars or Q&A sessions. This allows them to engage with employees on a more personal level and gather valuable feedback.

8. Personalized Online Training Paths

The most effective way to increase employee involvement in online training is to personalize the online training experience. Employees need to know that the online training content centers on their learning needs and objectives, rather than being forced to participate in a one-size-fits-all online training course. Give them the opportunity to choose their own online training activities or integrate a clickable eLearning course map whereby they can pave their own path. The goal is to give them control over the process and empower them to continually develop their skills. Invite them to create their own online training content and share it with peers via social media. You might also consider personalized online training contracts that hold employees accountable for their actions.

9. Mentorship Online Training Programs

In some cases, employees may need one-on-one support from a more experienced staff member. A mentorship online training program offers more personalized guidance. It also makes them aware of the fact that they are part of a team. Use Project Management online platforms and video conferencing tools to facilitate communication. In addition, create guidelines so that everyone knows what to expect. For example, which online training resources they can use to remedy skill gaps, as well as the time frame in which employees must complete their assignments. There should also be regular meetings to ensure that no additional interventions are required.

These 9 secrets can help you improve online training ROI and increase employee involvement. The key is to make employees feel like they’re a vital part of the process and give them a sense of ownership. They need to know that their opinions matter and that you genuinely care about their professional growth. Your success hinges on their online training success.

Do you know the secrets to increase manager involvement in online training, as well? Read the article 8 Tips To Maximize Manager Involvement In Online Training to discover 8 tips to make your online training more effective by maximizing manager involvement.

Comments 2

  1. I love your opening statement “The key to online training success is pursuing professional growth with passion.” I think the first key to a successful online training program is the buy-in from your employees and their enthusiasm to learn more and become better at their jobs. In my opinion, this starts offline with the team leaders, personally investing in employees and showing them that they value their success at the company.

    Once you have the buy-in, then you’re right, you have to keep them engaged with the content. I love your point about using social media to get people to interact. I would suggest setting up a Slack channel for training and integrate your online training software so others can see when people complete a lesson. This will help instill competition and eagerness to complete their own lessons. I also love the idea of a microlearning online training library. With the average attention span now down to 7 seconds, it’s important to have concise lessons for employees to take to give them a bite-sized chunk of learning for the day. Personalize paths are also a really great idea, showing the employee that you care about their success and are purposefully assigning lessons to them that are actually relevant to their role.

    Thanks for the write-up. These are all great ways to increase employee engagement with training!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *