What We’ve Learned About the Importance of Virtual Learning

History of Remote Employee Training

As early as 1728, the concept of distance learning by way of correspondence started to grow roots in the British North American colonies and Great Britain. The first course to be taught long-distance was for learning shorthand, also known as stenography. Students would learn how to write faster by employing a system that used abbreviations for words and common phrases. This meant that stenographers would be able to write as fast as people spoke.

Fast forward to today's global culture, where we have computers that suggest words as you are typing to make the whole process go even faster. To maintain the speed of business that we’ve grown accustomed to during a global pandemic, we’ve adapted. With schools and businesses closing their doors to in-person interactions, we have accelerated online interactions and implemented remote employee training to meet our everyday needs. Employers in all industries are scrambling to provide their workforce with fast, high-quality solutions. They aim to keep employees engaged and satisfied while continuing to perform well in their jobs.

The Importance of Online Learning

As mentioned, the value of eLearning has never been more apparent than now. Without the ability to continue working and learning online, most economies would suffer greatly in the face of an impending recession. As we move from a certification to a skill-based workforce, online learning is becoming the gateway through which this transition can take shape. Since social distancing and other restrictive measures need to be upheld for the foreseeable future, turning your attention to eLearning and remote employee training is the obvious answer.

Employers can continue investing in their staff while employees can take advantage of flexible work and learning hours. Investing in corporate education will give workers and employees alike the perfect springboard for business and self-development.

The Benefits of eLearning for Businesses

1. eLearning and virtual training are creating new learning experiences

Different people learn in different ways. Using the right online learning platform can transform your online learning for remote employees. Once you discover your employees' learning needs, you can implement the ideal platform and tools to support their development. One great feature to include in your online learning program is polling. Polling hones in on valuable information about your employees' existing skills and knowledge, where they need to improve, and their computer proficiency. 

2. Remote employee training is more efficient and has increased knowledge retention rates

Knowledge retention is a hot topic among instructional designers and remote training developers. Research shows that within an hour of the training, the learners tend to forget almost fifty percent of the information presented to them, seventy percent within a day, and nearly ninety percent within a week. Because online learning allows unlimited reviews and learners can retake tests however many times they need, information is easily passed into the long-term memory. If your remote employee training module offers rewards, collaboration work, and modules that can be implemented directly into their workflow, employee learners will flourish

3. Training for remote workers cuts costs

Remote employee training cuts overhead, meal and transport, and, most importantly, time ‘costs’. Time is money, so the more we preserve what little time we have, the better. Providing learning from the comfort of one’s home can be an excellent way for a company to save money.

4. Anytime Anywhere Learning adds flexibility for remote employee learners

Anytime Anywhere Learning and learn-at-your-own-pace courses allow employee trainees to organize their work and training time according to their lifestyle. Many of us who are switching to remote work and learning will see a period of adjustment that may be comfortable. Still, the consensus is that transferring over to virtual platforms is greatly preferred.

5. Cross-learning or cross-training can help boost employee engagement, self-worth, and knowledge-base

Those with a smartphone can use it as an opportunity to teach others. Your organization is most likely filled with people knowledgeable in various areas of business. Why not support them to become mentors and trainers for other employees that might be lacking in skills or knowledge, or simply want to advance their abilities? The right online learning platform makes it easy for coworkers to collaborate and upgrade their knowledge and confidence.

Conclusion

Although the global pandemic disrupted our way of life, technology is helping redefine the way we communicate, work, and learn. In many ways, the situation has helped further underline the importance of virtual learning. 

If you want to learn more about eLearning development options and effective and immersive learning experiences, we invite you to contact our team today!

Please note this article was updated by our team on 8/19/2021.