Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams and other digital platforms are now a part of the fabric of our working lives.
Digital communication has been one of the success stories of 2020, and it has allowed the world of work to be able to continue with some semblance of normality.
Although it was necessary, it was a significant shift to move in-person meetings to digital-only, and I’m sure many employers were worried about how successful it was going to be.
But now, several months later, online communications have proven to be a success for employee and employers alike.
Many individuals have been working from home since March, and this has meant that for employers who understand the necessity for continuous training and development, learning has gone online too.
Have you been delivering online learning to your team, or utilised the help of external experts? Most organisations have.
The good news is that online learning is an incredibly effective way to equip your team with new skills and knowledge.
Today I want to share six reasons how online learning, delivered well, will produce outstanding results for your organisation.
1. Online Learning Provides a Level Playing Field
Online learning allows for an environment where collaboration and connection can happen; which is a great starting point for any learning to take place.
Individuals who may lack the confidence to get involved during in-person training are more likely to participate in online learning, with the use of chat boxes and the protective anonymity of being on a webcam rather than speaking in front of a room full of people.
As much as possible, encourage participants to have their webcam on at all times, as this creates a more evenly balanced and open environment which is conducive with learning.
2. Break Out Rooms
The use of break out rooms during online training provides essential reflection time that is necessary for new learning to make an impact.
Depending on the platform being used (as some perform better than others), break out rooms provide a swift and easy place for discussions to happen organically – this stage of learning is essential. This Harvard study found that when learning involves participation and collaboration in ‘active learning’, the results returned are much better.
Once participants have had adequate time to reflect and complete any group tasks they have been assigned, they can come back to the room quickly – there are no hold-ups that can often arise from the logistics of in-person training courses.
3. Team Members are More Receptive
When people are learning in an environment where they feel more comfortable and relaxed, this can produce excellent results in terms of learning.
Taking part in training while you are working from home can allow individuals to feel more relaxed, and more receptive to soaking up new skills and information.
Being in a familiar place allows people to open up more. This means they get more out of the learning, and they can contribute to the programme more effectively.
4. Multiple Engagement Routes
The multiple engagement tools that online learning provides allow people to engage with the person delivering the training and fellow participants in a broader way.
Being able to be present during training, but also being able to engage with the trainer and colleagues using chat boxes creates a shared learning connection.
Online learning is set up for maximum collaboration, and this is apparent, as online learning delivers better results than traditional ‘classroom’ style learning. Studies have found that online learning delivers up to 60% better retention rates than in-person learning.
It must be mentioned that multiple communication tools have the potential to become a distraction when they are misused, so ensure that participants are aware that overuse of additional communication tools can be a distraction for other learners.
5. Easy to Set Up
Another benefit of online learning is that it is fairly easy to be set up and delivered, plus it comes with the added bonus that it can be recorded and rewatched at a later date – a perk that is impossible with in-person training.
The ease of online learning means that it can be set up quickly and can be delivered more frequently; none of the logistical challenges of setting up physical L&D session apply.
6. Financially Beneficial
Finally, a significant benefit for the employer is that online learning is incredibly cost-effective; it involves none of the extra costs such as travel and expenses, which might now become a thing of the past.
Additionally, training pre-Covid usually involved some kind of travel and time away from home, which is not an issue in our new virtual world. Although, I’m sure a lot of us might be missing travel right now!
Next Steps?
Are you interested in investing in virtual training for your team in our socially distanced world?
Click here to learn more about the virtual training programmes that we offer. Alternatively, contact us here to talk to us about your virtual training needs and how we can help.
Until next time,
Julia
About Zestfor
Zestfor specialises in developing Training programmes and resources scientifically tailored for technical markets – including Pharmaceutical, IT, and Life Sciences.
Our blend of in-classroom, online, and virtual live-stream delivery methods will engage and assure even the most introverted team members from the first meeting – whether face-to-face or virtually. To have a brief chat, call us on 0845 548 0833. Alternatively, please email our team here.
