Online training is quickly becoming a popular alternative for traditional instruction. One survey concluded that over 60 percent of students believe virtual learning provides professional adults with the opportunity to receive instruction without adjusting their current work schedules, according to EdTech Magazine.
Online training is quickly becoming a popular alternative for traditional instruction. One survey concluded that over 60 percent of students believe virtual learning provides professional adults with the opportunity to receive instruction without adjusting their current work schedules, according to EdTech Magazine. This type of online training opportunity can also save a considerable amount of time and money for your company when it comes to welcoming new hires to the team.
Keep the Wheel of Content Moving
Engagement is the key when training your new employees within a virtual classroom. Within a traditional classroom, an instructor can do a lot more to keep his or her students engaged and excited throughout the entire class. However, it is very easy to lose a person’s attention online – especially when covering a boring subject area. Think about the last time that you sat through a lengthy viral video from start to finish without skipping sections or switching to a different video all together.
When presenting content to your new hires, use a lot of engaging slides and pictures with a minimal amount of text. Keep the presentation moving smoothly, according to Learning Solutions Magazine – using the pictures and engaging anecdotes to keep your audience’s attention.
Maintain an Open Line of Communication
Another way to use virtual training hosted by such companies as BlueJeans effectively is to keep the lines of two-way communication open. The average person will easily lose interest and engagement with an uninterrupted lecture after a certain period, especially if you are covering 45-60 minutes worth of material. Make sure that you leave the door open for your questions, comments, concerns and suggestions.
Effective trainers know the importance of using role-playing, exercises, demonstrations and case studies with their students. Strive to use a variety of those same instructional methods during your online training sessions. Doing so will make it easier for your employees to stay engaged and informed, which will eliminate the need to retrain the same material later.
Educate the New Hires on Accessing the Training
Before you can focus on conducting effective and engaging training sessions, it is imperative for you to ensure that your new hires know how to access the session in the first place. It is true that 20 percent of Americans make video calls, according to Mashable. However, this also means that a lot more people may not have any idea how to use this type of virtual technology.
Make sure that you provide your new hires with detailed login information and instructions in advance. If possible, allow them to log into the system and at least register or RSVP so that they can become familiar with the system long before the official training begins. This will also provide them with plenty of time to resolve any technical issues that may arise with their equipment which would have caused them to miss the training later.
Use Social Media as an Efficient Tool
Over 2.2 billion people actively use at least one social media platform, according to Social Media Today. To generate exposure to your company, encourage your new hires to share their experience via social media. In addition to the virtual training sessions hosted by top companies, you can also facilitate open discussions via such platforms as Facebook, Twitter and Reddit. Doing so will allow your new hires to learn more from one another – possibly collaborating on homework assignments and assisting one another as needed. This type of interaction will provide your new hires with the chance to interact with each other from the very beginning, giving them the chance to work on building their teamwork skills long before they complete their required training sessions.
Pay Attention to the Learning Environments
Within a traditional classroom, the instructor has full control over and knowledge of the learning environment. For instance, he or she can decide whether they want to use a visual aid, online whiteboard, chalkboard, flip chart, worksheets, handouts, and projector and so on. No matter which tool or resource is used, all of the students in attendance will benefit from the same thing.
When training new employees virtually, the realm of different learning environments is wide open and no longer controlled by the instructor. In most cases, each new hire has the chance to choose their own device to use when accessing the training. Some may use their tablets. Others may use their computers. Depending on the training, some may even use their smartphones. Make sure that your content is compatible with multiple devices. The design and overall layout should be responsive, which means that it can adapt to any type of screen size and device.
The Bottom Line
Trusting in such companies as Blue Jeans to host your virtual employee training sessions for new hires can save a considerable amount of time and money. Think about the substantial savings in overhead expenses that your company will generate simply by not having to provide this type of instruction in a traditional classroom setting. However, to ensure that the training is effective and efficient, examine and apply each of these points carefully and cautiously.
