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Have you ever walked out of a long, lecture-based training session shaking your head and feeling like you didn’t grasp much?
We’ve all been there! That’s why identifying the right training method is key. It’s not just about time spent it’s also about how engaging the learning process is.
In corporate training, how you deliver that knowledge can make all the difference.
In contrast to lecture-based formats, which often result in passive learning experiences, engaging training methods like interactive workshops, simulations, and hands-on exercises encourage active engagement and deeper understanding among employees.
Tailor content delivery to make it fun, relevant, and practical boosts understanding and motivates teams to apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge to their daily roles. Highly engaged training helps you learn faster while being more motivated and skilled, ultimately helping the company succeed.
Let’s dive into three methods: eLearning (self-paced), instructor-led learning (live sessions), and blended delivery (a mix of both).
1. eLearning/self-paced learning (asynchronous)
Imagine needing to quickly train your sales team on a new product launch. With eLearning, your team can jump in whenever it suits them, cruise through fun, interactive modules, and ace quizzes to nail down the new product details. It’s like having a 24/7 learning library right at your fingertips! Plus, it’s budget friendly and scales effortlessly.
Tech companies are a perfect fit for eLearning. With many tech firms operating globally, eLearning ensures consistent training across all locations and time zones, ensuring consistency in knowledge and skills development.
Benefits of eLearning
eLearning is flexible – your team can jump in anytime, anywhere! Plus, it cuts down on travel costs and delivers interactive, engaging content that really boosts engagement.
Challenges of eLearning
A drawback of eLearning is keeping employees motivated and engaged without the structure or immediate feedback of a live session. Feeling isolated can also be an unfortunate drawback.
To rock eLearning, you need some self-discipline: set your goals, stick to a schedule, and keep those distractions at bay.
2. Instructor-led training (synchronous)
Sometimes, you just need that human touch! A live trainer can break down tricky ideas, answer questions on the spot, and lead awesome group discussions to make learning more engaging. It’s akin to a personal guide that leads you through the learning maze.
In addition, trainers who engage with the participants and form a learning community have more interested and informed employees. By including discussion breaks, live quizzes, and polling, trainers can make participants feel a part of the action.
Let’s take the healthcare industry as an example. In this field, learners must have hands-on practice using clinical care skills and work together as a team. Expert-led training sessions are not only the recommended training format but also crucial.
Benefits of ILT
Instructor-led training (ILT) offers immediate feedback, personalized guidance, and collaborative learning, boosting engagement and retention.
Challenges of ILT
This form of training might require a lot of resources and needs to be more flexible regarding scheduling.
To rock your instructor-led learning, dive into discussions, ask tons of questions, and stay on top of your training schedule. Tap into your trainer’s wisdom by asking for feedback and jumping into group activities. It’s all about making the most of your learning adventure!
3. Blended learning (mix of eLearning and ILT)
It’s like having your cake and eating it too! 🍰
Blended learning combines the flexibility of eLearning with the interactive power of live sessions. You get the best of both worlds: the freedom to move through self-paced modules and the benefit of live guidance and interaction. This mix helps people remember things better and creates a lively, teamwork-focused place where learners can do well and improve.
Further, blended learning models have been shown to improve employee engagement and knowledge retention by offering a balanced approach to learning. Mixing self-paced modules with live webinars is like creating the ultimate training smoothie! This blend helps organizations whip up top-notch training that everyone loves.
Blended learning is also best when you have some content that’s easy to digest virtually, while the rest requires hands-on practice.
For example, let’s say you work for a large retail chain. You need to understand company policies while also practicing your customer service skills. Enter blended learning: you can create self-paced modules to cover policies and use live sessions to focus on customer interaction techniques.
Benefits of blended learning
Blended learning offers flexibility, guidance and caters to different learning needs, all while being cost-effective. 💰
Challenges of blended learning
Designing a seamless blend takes effort, and tech issues can occasionally cause issues.
Thriving in blended learning is all about smart time management! Team up with your coworkers and your trainer during live sessions, ask plenty of questions, and seek clarification. This way, you can make the most of your learning adventure on both platforms.
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Whether you go all-in on eLearning, prefer live, instructor-led training sessions for that personal touch, or strike a balance between the two via blended learning, it really comes down to what works best for your organization and your learners. The key is to choose the approach that turns mere training into an engaging learning experience!
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