e-Learning and Compliance Training: Strategies for impactful course design

Compliance trainings feature prominently in most organizational training calendars. The technology-aided platform works very well with these mandatory trainings. This is because the required time-frame of completing the training is specified, so the learner can take up the training as per his per her schedule – without compromising on the existing deliverables. So, while the technology platform is compatible with compliance trainings, there are certain design strategies that also need to be kept in mind when creating a compliance online learning course. Here are a chosen few – from the cauldron of our experiences:

• A virtual mentor: Often the starting point of the design strategy is to consider how the compliance course was delivered traditionally within the organization. So, if the learners are more accustomed to learning with an instructor, a virtual mentor can be introduced, which can provide the ‘human’ element in the course. This also helps the learners connect more with the subject and feel at ease with the technology-aided platform.

• The audio element: A voice over is an able accompaniment while the mentor takes the learner through the entire course. The audio should be suitably synched with on-screen text and graphics to create a winsome multimedia effect that is very impactful – visually as well as aurally.

• The right tone: While designing a compliance course, it is important to acknowledge the fact that while the e-course is mandatory, its aim is to bring about certain behavioral changes among the learner group.  Often, these changes cannot be forced, and it is a wise idea to adopt a tone which is friendly and not intimidating.

• Providing examples and case studies: By citing case studies and real-life examples, we can help the learner to fully understand the impact of changing his or her behavior and complying with the suggested set of rules/regulations. This also helps in driving home the fact that by complying with the rules/regulations, the employees can bring real and tangible benefits to business. Examples and case studies succeed because they show by example and answer the quintessential question: Why should I change my behavior and comply?

For instance, while creating a compliance e-course on Corporate Social Responsibility and Green initiatives, we shared a case study from the hospitality industry to illustrate how the choices made in the supply chain adversely affect not only the environment as a whole but also the organisation’s own profits and image. This case was industry-specific, but it drove home the fact that corporate decisions had to be made keeping environmental and health concerns as priority. Failing this, an organization is open to a lot of undesirable liability – both in terms of money and credibility.

• Interactivities: Compliance courses are often long and data-heavy. This can make learning tedious for the employees. In addition to textual and graphical representation of data, interactivities can also be built into the course to provide both – a suitable relief as well as a ‘push’ for learning. With the introduction of interactivities, the learners are encouraged to interact with the course content and discover learning on their own. This experiential approach is fundamental for providing and encouraging engaged learning. The interactivities can be simple, but they effectively dispel boredom.

• Videos or Animation?: Compliance trainings often deal with solemn and serious topics, and videos or animations can be created to lighten the mood and hit the right chord with the learners. Actual real-life videos can be shot and included in the compliance course to illustrate by example. Alternatively, if the budgets are tight, animations can also be created to provide impactful learning through characters and setting.

For instance, we created a short whiteboard animation on Bribery, to be included in a corporate training game. In order to start the game, the learners had to watch the video to completion. In spite of the ‘forced learning’ strategy, the video became intensely popular as it introduced familiar characters and scenarios that employees face every day in the workplace. The video not only provided knowledge for the learners to perform well in the game but also shared compliance issues regarding bribery very well.

Just because they are mandatory, there is no reason why compliance trainings should be dry and information-heavy. In fact, because the learning that they provide has greater implications on the quality of work, compliance courses should be built to provide a learning experience that is enjoyable as well as impactful. By employing the above strategies, it is possible to create compliance trainings that are successful in engaging the learners as well as empowering them to deliver better work standards. To share your experiences or know more about strategies for the design and development of e-learning courses, write to in**@gc**********.net or fill the form below:

[contact-form-7 id=”4070″ title=”Post-page-request”]