The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically transformed the work landscape, necessitating a reevaluation of training practices. With an increasing number of workplaces embracing hybrid or fully remote work arrangements, it is crucial to acknowledge the significance of helping workers learn remotely. Educating and empowering employees through online platforms demands a distinctive approach compared to traditional in-person methods. Leveraging online training initiatives becomes indispensable, benefiting a wide range of individuals, from fresh recruits to seasoned employees seeking to enhance their skill sets.
Learning Online vs. In-Person
At first, it can feel daunting to compete with in-person training. In-person training offers more hands-on experience and real face-to-face interactions. But learning online has its advantages, too. Virtual trainings offer more variety in their programs and are much more flexible. They’re also usually less expensive.
For some employers who work entirely remotely, online training is the only option. However, even if your workplace is hybrid, training and upskilling employees online can be a strategic option that leaves your limited time in the office available for important meetings. If you take the time to learn the correct approach to online learning, there’s no reason your employees can’t be trained, onboarded, or upskilled from home.
Checklist for Successful Online Learning
Now that you understand the fundamental differences between learning online and in-person, here is a checklist of items to keep in mind along the way:
- Choose content strategically. Zoom burnout is real, so don’t just burden your employees with every training session you think might be relevant. Take the time to consider what is most important for your employees to learn.
- Evaluate skill gaps. This goes hand-in-hand with choosing content strategically. Do an audit of what skill your employees or team might be missing, then create a plan to fill those gaps.
- Be realistic about attention span. An entire day of learning on Zoom is exhausting, and attention will drop off quickly. Consider microlearning options, like daily ten-minute webinars.
- Make learning social. Virtual breakout rooms, quizzes, and other interactive activities are all great ways to break up the monotony of online lectures. Keep your employees engaged and participating! It’s important to find the right balance between group training and self-guided training.
- Set clear expectations. What changes are you expecting to see in your employees after the training is complete? How are you expecting them to apply what they’ve learned to their current roles and responsibilities? Communicating these expectations upfront will help with both engagement and performance.
- Find a learning management system. This will enable you to track employee progress and set goals for the future. Learn more about LMS options here.
- Welcome feedback. Offering employees the chance to review their training provides valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the training and will help you make changes to the process in the future.
- Recognize and reward results. Find ways to measure employee success, such as certificates of completion or assessment scores. Then, reward and praise employees who meet and exceed the standards you set. Doing so will help employee morale and encourage learning on your team.
Conclusion
Finally, don’t be afraid to take the plunge into online learning. From general HR training to industry-specific workshops and webinars, there are thousands of great resources available online that will ensure your helping workers learn remotely.
Interested in learning more from professional recruiters? Contact Lucas James.
This article was originally published on March 10, 2022; it has since been updated and republished on July 12, 2023.