Marc deGuzman | Value through agility
Blog
4 Tips to Make eLearning Work For You in 2020
Happy new decade!
In the new year, I’ll continue to promote e-learning. The technology available makes web and app-based learning very simple to implement, update, and monitor. And, microlearning gained a lot of traction in recent years.
That said, what to do when someone asks, “which software should we use to make courses?” At the risk of app overload – I say find your why. Is the training part of a strategy or the strategy? Will a new tool be the right change? Well, a new tool does not always facilitate change and can create more barriers for professionals.
Are the training outcomes aligned with the organization’s goals?
Making effective training products is time-consuming. Let that effort be purposeful and have training align with where the business is going.
Are they realistic outcomes?
Don’t expect training objectives to translate into business value. As part of your strategy, consider how you’ll realize the desired outcomes beyond the e-learning.
And, how can training outcomes be measured?
It all depends on your context, but its worth planning a few steps ahead. This isn’t just follow-up, its analyzing the feedback loops. For example, let’s say you use e-learning to train brand representatives on features of a new product. You could track conversions periodically after the training, such as 30-60 days, and survey customers to see if they were told about the new features. To simplify this point, what’s the ROI.
What is your state of e-learning readiness?
Assess the organization’s positioning for e-learning. Look at the time you are willing to dedicate resources to training. If there is no training budget, are you willing to champion a grassroots approach? In that case, people will be asked to take on additional responsibilities. And, is that sustainable?
Use the tech you already have
I use both Captivate and Storyline to develop e-learning products. However, you can get started today with PPT. Why not get the cool shiny app? Simple! Most professionals are familiar with PPT, as it is commonly used, you can easily protect your information, and it isn’t just for presentations. Many of the features translate directly to the bigger, pricier “authoring tools,” so save some money and make some creative interactive learning that you own, host, and control.
Know your learners
Adult learners have different needs and preferences, and everyone has a different voice when it comes to training. It doesn’t matter what you intend to use as e-learning, a video, a module, a website, etc. Ask your learners what they want to know, who they are, and how they work best. Continuing the new product training example, sending slides of data sheets and calling it e-learning won’t be too effective if the new features of the product are experiential.
So there it is, two considerations to launch your strategy and two tactics for developing talent with e-learning. Good luck!