[Note: Part 1 of this article appeared in the previous issue.]
Learners Who Are Not Adept at Using Technology
While e-learning tools may be convenient and easy to use for some learners, this is not the case for all learners. Some learners may not use their smartphones all the time, may not understand common icons on various interfaces, etc.
To get nontechnically inclined learners up to speed without singling them out or addressing their every question on a case-by-case basis, offer easy-to-understand user guides and video tutorials inside your e-learning platforms and systems.
Ensure every learner knows where they can go if they need help with using your e-learning tools, and make information easy to find and understand.
Course Designers Who Lack Technical Know-How or E-Learning Experience
Some trainers might know how to design the perfect course content for in-person training, yet still be completely lost when it comes to designing effective course content for an e-learning course that entails advanced technology and tools and different types of content files.
You can either train your trainers in best practices for designing e-learning materials so that they’re effective or outsource your e-learning content needs to e-learning professionals to fill this gap. Otherwise, the quality and effectiveness of your learning content will be called into question.
Inadequate System Support and Ability to Make Changes as Needed
E-learning technology changes rapidly, as do certain integration requirements, systems updates, etc. And, sometimes, outages and system failures can occur.
It’s imperative to have an internal staff who maintains your up-to-date e-learning technology or addresses system outages and other technical difficulties quickly and efficiently when they arise. And if you don’t have a dedicated internal support staff for your e-learning tools and platforms, be sure to select an e-learning vendor that does offer the level of support and assistance your users require.
Managing Learning Content Files and Talent Management
Managing and storing different e-learning content files (e.g., videos, courses, documents, user profiles, talent profiles, quizzes, and more) can be a daunting and seemingly impossible task for organizations that have thousands of employees completing a multitude of learning tasks at multiple times throughout the day on multiple types of devices.
Integrating e-learning systems with the appropriate Learning Record Store (LRS) can help organizations easily store and manage large amounts of learning content and files. And using an user-experience application programming interface (xAPI) can ensure all e-learning interactions across devices (online and offline) are captured and stored, and linked to an organization’s talent management or other Human Resources system.
Inevitably your organization will face one or more of the challenges prompted by the rise of e-learning technology. But with the insights highlighted above, your organization will be able to circumvent these challenges with ease.