7 External Online Training Distractors that your
Corporate Learners Must Overcome

Are modern technology and peer-to-peer interactions effective online training tools, or eLearning obstacles? In this article, I’ll share the 7 most common external online training distractors that your corporate learners must overcome.

7 External Online Training Distractors To Consider

eLearning professionals are aware that low motivation and negative emotions are formidable forces to be dealt with. But there are also a number of issues that reside outside your corporate learners’ minds hindering the online training process. Even some that are often seen as being conducive to eLearning, when properly controlled. The following 7 external online training distractors can occupy a corporate learner’s attention and rob them of the benefits that your online training course provides.

1. Chaotic Physical Environment

There’s a lot going on around them. Busy offices and loud chatter force corporate learners to disengage from the online training course and concentrate on external stimuli. It’s impossible to remove these external online training distractors. We can help drown them out with online training content that is too intriguing to miss. Include compelling multimedia and colors that pop off the screen to grab corporate learners’ attention. You can also use stories and personal anecdotes to create a personal connection.

2. Peers

Peers can be valuable online training support tools. Corporate learners have the chance to work together to solve common problems and engage in lively online discussions. However, peers may also be a distraction that leads to idle chatter and tangents. For example, an online discussion becomes a place where corporate learners vent their opinions and share stories that are unrelated to the online training topic. It’s no longer about peer-based information exchange and eLearning feedback. Therefore, it’s crucial to set ground rules and moderate the online discussion. You might even post a question or prompt each week to guide the conversation, or invite corporate learners to create a posting schedule to follow.

3. Social Media

You may use social media to share daily tips or encourage corporate learners to interact with their remote peers. Unfortunately, groups and pages can also throw corporate learners off course. It’s not only personal posts that are problematic, but mini-games, polls, notifications, and tags. You may be able to help corporate learners concentrate by creating closed groups. Also, encourage them to take frequent breaks so that they can read personal posts or chat with friends periodically. Lastly, give them a social media assignment to occupy their time. For example, ask them to interview experts or find 5 interesting facts regarding the subject matter. They’ll be so busy completing the task that they will forget about the social media distractions around them.

4. Family/Work Commitments

Many corporate learners don’t feel like they have the time to participate in online training courses. There are too many family or work obligations that take precedence. Even if they are physically attending the online training course, their minds are not present. There are two common solutions to this problem. The first is to develop personalized learning plans wherein corporate learners can dictate their own paths. They choose when and where they train, as well as which online training activities best suit their needs. The second is to provide mobile-friendly, microlearning online training resources that are easily accessible. Corporate learners can get the information they require in between appointments, without having to adjust their schedules. Both approaches alleviate a great deal of stress and empower corporate learners. Online training is more convenient. Thus, they don’t have to miss out on family events or work meetings to achieve their learning goals.

5. Mobile Devices

Everyone has a mobile device these days. Some of us even sleep beside our phones, worried that we might miss an important call or email. As a result, mobile devices have become one of the major external online training distractors themselves. It’s true, they also allow round-the-clock access to online training resources. But it’s far too easy for corporate learners to reply to an email or take a phone call when they should be completing the coursework. Like Pavlov’s dogs, many of us have been trained to immediately respond to that notification ringtone. Leaving a message unanswered even makes us nervous, wondering what news is waiting for us. There’s no solid solution to this problem. However, you can encourage corporate learners to download the online training content and complete it offline in severe cases, or provide online training content that’s so compelling that they ignore notifications.

6. Physical State (Hunger/Thirst)

This is a mix of internal and external online training distractors. Corporate learners forget to eat or don’t get a good night’s sleep. So, they are distracted by grumbling stomachs or watery eyes when they log into the LMS platform. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, all our basic lower-level needs must be met before we can begin the learning process. For instance, nourishing our bodies takes priority over safety or the need to feel accepted and loved. The best way to prevent this is to stress the importance of mental and physical well being, in addition to giving corporate learners the opportunity to set their own schedules. They can pick a day when they’re well-rested and well-fed so that they can concentrate on the online training activity.

7. Personal Pursuits

Hobbies and personal interests have the power to distract corporate learners’ thoughts and take them out of the online training experience. They also take time away from your online training course. For example, a corporate learner is indulging in their favorite pastime when they’re supposed to attend a live online training event. That said, it’s always good to have a balance. Corporate learners shouldn’t completely forego their personal pursuits. In fact, you can even incorporate them into your eLearning course design. Survey your audience, then create stories, graphics, and other online training content that pertains to their hobbies. Additionally, develop a flexible online training schedule so that they don’t have to choose between online training and their life’s passions.

External online training distractors can be just as intrusive as internal struggles, especially when there are left unchecked. Use this article to connect with corporate learners and create online training content that overshadows negative influences. Also, always be on the lookout for new external online training distractors that pose a threat to active online training participation.

Interactivity may help minimize external online training distractors. Read the article 8 Tips To Create Interactive And Immersive Online Training Tutorials to discover tips to create immersive online training tutorials that keep corporate learners focused and engaged.