Are your employees looking for online training courses that meet their individual needs? Do you need to provide them with targeted online training resources and activities to help them improve their job performance? If so, then customized online training is your best bet. In this article, I’ll share 6 tips to create customized online training content for your corporate learners.
How To Create Customized Online Training Content For Your Corporate Learners
Customized online training may refer to a variety of distinct aspects of the online training content, as far as learner interaction with the online training material is concerned. For example, the type of content a corporate learner may prefer, the pace of learning of each individual, the order of accessing the online training material, their personal interests, the context provided, their previous experience with the subject matter, etc. Here are 6 tips and techniques to successfully create customized online training content:
1. Research Your Audience
Your employees’ needs, goals, preferences, and knowledge dictate every aspect of your online training course. As such, you have to research their backgrounds and experience levels to create online training experiences that provide real value. Whenever you create customized online training content, you need to learn as much as possible about your audience. Conduct surveys, on-the-job observations, and diagnostic assessments to gather your data. Then use it to create targeted online training activities and modules that bridge gaps and help employees achieve their personal goals.
2. Cater To Different Learning Preferences
Different employees require different training approaches. Some learners prefer podcasts, presentations, and other audio-based activities, while others enjoy more interactive and tactile online training content. Customized online training courses allow them to choose the online training activities that suit their preferences. They can get the information they require in the format of their choice, which is why it’s essential to include a diverse range of online training activities in different formats.
3. Focus On Real World Practicality
Ultimately, your employees must be able to apply what they’ve learned in the workplace. As such, your customized online training content needs to focus on real world practicality and application. Online training simulations, branching scenarios, and real world examples are the ideal solution. These online training activities help your employees build vital experience and put their skills into practice. Customized online training content centers on specific performance gaps. Therefore, each interactive online training activity should allow employees to learn from their mistakes and broaden their knowledge.
4. Make It Multiplatform-Friendly
Employees should be able to access the customized online training content whenever, wherever it’s most convenient. For example, on the sales floor while they are helping a customer pick the perfect product. As such, you might consider a responsive design tool that allows you to create responsive online training courses. These tools make your online training content multiplatform-friendly so that employees can use any mobile device to get the online training they require. However, it also caters to those who prefer to use laptops and PCs in the workplace. In addition, consider a cloud-based Learning Management System that employees can access from anywhere in the world. Some HTML5 tools even allow them to download the online training content for offline viewing.
5. Collect Continual Feedback
Your customized online training program must evolve with the changing needs of your employees. Therefore, you have to collect continual feedback in order to track trends and patterns. Surveys, pre-assessments, and LMS metrics are must-have tools for online training customization. They allow you to monitor employee progress and engagement to identify corporate eLearning strengths and weaknesses. You can use this data to enhance the benefits of your customized online training materials and improve your corporate eLearning ROI.
6. Automate Your Customized Online Training Content
eLearning automation gives you the power to customize your online training content based on individual’s needs. For example, the platform will automatically display relevant online training activities after the employee completes a pre-assessment. In fact, some systems even provide immediate feedback so that employees can identify areas for improvement. If you do choose to automate your online training course, be sure to include a good mix of online training activities for different learning preferences. Then the system can display a list of helpful resources after each online training activity or steer employees in the right direction. For instance, an employee doesn’t receive a passing grade on their compliance online training assessment. Therefore, the Learning Management System has them repeat the respective online training module and retake the exam.
Customized online training provides the employees with the resources they need to overcome common obstacles and improve workplace productivity. As a result, your company’s bottom line benefits. Not to mention, you improve employee satisfaction and retention rates.
Are you looking for more tips to create personalized online training? Read the article 7 Best Practices For Developing Personalized eLearning Courses to discover 7 best practices to follow when developing personalized eLearning experiences.