Although there are numerous benefits to e-learning inside the workplace for both employers and employees, such as employers’ saving money with e-learning options and being better able to engage employee learners and personalize their learning environments while improving job satisfaction and productivity levels, as well as employees’ having access to relevant and timely learning content at their own convenience while on the go, employees sometimes struggle with e-learning programs when these programs aren’t properly implemented or when they don’t know how to engage with platforms or software. This can ultimately lead to frustrated learners and e-learning programs that yield lower returns on investment for the organization.
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So, here are seven things you can do to help your employees if you notice some of them are struggling with these programs.
1. Provide Software and Technical Training for E-Learning Platforms
Be sure to show your employees how to use your e-learning platforms before expecting them to use them regularly, as sometimes, learners struggle with how to use the platforms on which these programs are hosted and they may not know what certain icons mean or where certain features are inside the program, for example.
2. Offer Multiple Learning Options
Offer employee learners different mediums for e-learning content to keep them engaged, such as live virtual training sessions in tandem with recorded or on-demand courses, as well as blended learning options that also feature in-person training sessions. Because some learners prefer real-time or in-person training sessions over online options, doing this will ensure your struggling learners will stay engaged and up to date with their courses.
3. Implement Mobile and E-Mail Notifications
Learners will sometimes forget to complete e-learning tasks because they get distracted, so send them reminders when they need to complete a module or assessment or when they can post a question they have about their e-learning content to a group of their peers. Such reminders can ensure employees don’t forget about their courses and prove very useful to their engagement with these programs.
4. Pair Employees with Learning Buddies
Pair employees with a learning buddy if they aren’t self-motivated to complete e-learning tasks on their own time and at their own pace. Learning buddies can study together, complete coursework together, and help each other complete courses in a timely manner.
5. Employ Gamification and Social Learning Techniques
To make e-learning fun, employ gamification techniques through which learners can earn badges and compete for top rankings, and allow them to engage in social learning so they can ask each other questions and provide answers regarding their e-learning content or experiences.
6. Rely on Adaptive Learning Technology
Learners struggle with e-learning options often because they aren’t relevant or engaging, so rely on adaptive learning technology to ensure your employees receive e-learning content that is always relevant and engaging.
7. Solicit and Incorporate User Feedback
Your learners won’t engage with your e-learning content if you don’t pay attention to what they want or need from their experiences, so make sure you’re asking your learners what they like and don’t like about your e-learning content, platforms, and experiences so you can continually improve them.
To help employees who struggle with e-learning, do one or more of the seven things listed above, and review “5 Essentials for Every Successful E-Learning Course” for additional insight.