How to Develop an Effective eLearning Training Module

Designing Digitally

10/14/2013

eLearning allows your company to train employees in the most efficient manner, enabling them to have the most current and necessary information to perform their jobs well. Creating an eLearning training module that is not only engaging but also effective is one of the most important aspects to staff training. While it may seem easy to come up with a training packet, there are various questions that should be asked and steps that must be taken in order to ensure you are providing employees with all the necessary information. eLearning has reshaped the way companies and businesses operate, as it allows them to create a system that is accessible 24/7. Gone are the days of scheduling a training meeting once a month or year; eLearning promotes continuous learning and the opportunity for employees to revisit the information as often as they need.

Many of us struggle with retaining all the necessary information upon first lesson, which is why eLearning is so innovative and such a wonderful concept for employee training exercises. Whether you have someone just looking for a refresher on a particular module or an employee who would like to build upon what they learned, eLearning modules gives them constant access.

eLearning Design and Development for Maximum Employee Engagement and Overall Training Effectiveness

The key to successful eLearning design and development is to know your learners. You simply cannot develop a working online training module if you do not know and understand your learners' background or style of learning. By taking the time to educate yourself on who your employees or learners are and how they best respond to the various training methods, you are setting yourself up for success. This will also promote an environment where employees stay engaged and comprehend all the necessary information, instead of just having information thrown at them in a less appealing manner.

Start Your eLearning Design and Development Initiatives by Answering the Following Questions:
 

  • How familiar are your employees with online learning? Dependent upon various factors, your employees may have never participated in an eLearning training. It is important to be aware of all levels of familiarity before developing a training module.
  • How much time will each training module take? It is a good idea to ask your employees how long they think each module will take them to complete; this will give you a better idea if you need to break one module into two, etc.
  • Do your employees speak different languages? If your employees are bi- or multilingual you may need to include various examples and content that will ensure they have all the necessary information to gain an in-depth understanding of the subject matter.
  • How and where will your employees complete the module? This includes what devices or technologies they will be using, when they have access to said devices, and if they will be sitting at a computer to complete the training or doing it on-the-go. This may dictate your content and help you decide whether or not you are going with a more involved model or straightforward questionnaire.

It is imperative for you to customize your training module to your learners and employees in order to ensure they are getting the most out of it. Keep in mind that not everyone learns the same and not everyone comes from the same background. Providing employees with well-planned and developed training modules will help them to be better employees and retain all the critical information you are giving them.

For more information on how to create an effective eLearning design and development, Designing Digitally, Inc. today!