8 Simple And Straightforward Ways To Create Personalized Online Training

How To Create Personalized Online Training

Employees must be able to form a connection in order to achieve the desired outcomes. But how do you make everyone feel like the online training course was created just for them, especially when you’re catering to a worldwide workforce? After all, each member of your team has unique learning goals and training gaps to consider, as well as learning preferences, personal preferences, and work responsibilities. These 8 tips and techniques can help you create personalized online training experiences.

1. Emphasize Benefits That Matter To Your Corporate Learners

Your corporate learners must be convinced and reassured that all their hard work is going to pay off. Specifically, that the benefits apply directly to them and allow them to achieve their goals. Emphasize the advantages of active participation, focusing on issues that matter most to your corporate learners. They need to know that the online training content is geared toward them and will benefit their personal lives. In fact, you may want to reiterate the perks from time to time to refresh their memory. Preferably, after every online training activity or module.

2. Incorporate Clickable eLearning Course Maps

Clickable eLearning course maps give corporate learners full control of the online training experience. They can go at their own pace and pick the resources that resonate with them instead of being forced into online training activities that miss the mark or don’t suit their learning preferences. You can also take it a step further by encouraging employees to set their own learning goals and objectives before accessing the eLearning course map. That way they have a clear idea of what they hope to achieve with the help of their personalized online training plan.

3. Include Subtitles Or Captions

Employees hail from different regions of the world and speak different languages. Even if they are fluent in English, they may still prefer online training materials in their native tongue. Thus, you should include subtitles or captions, which also makes it easily accessible for corporate learners with special needs. Some LMS platforms even have geolocation features that automatically display the suitable version of the online training course based on the employee’s physical location. You might consider hiring a professional eLearning translator for each target market to avoid grammatical errors and account for local customs.

4. Compile A Curated Microlearning Online Training Library

Microlearning online training repositories call for a-la-carte training, which makes them a perfect fit for personalized online training courses. Employees have the opportunity to access the microlearning online training library whenever the need arises, as well as use it to build skills and master work-related tasks that align with their individual goals. For example, hone skill sets that allow them to climb the corporate ladder. If you don’t have room in your budget to create microlearning online training resources from scratch, consider curated content, such as a hyperlink list that features categorized online training activities, articles, and videos.

5. Provide Relevant Personal Anecdotes

Certain employees need to know that they’re not in it alone, and that others are facing similar challenges. Anecdotes help them connect with the online training content and determine how to use the information in their own professional lives. They also personalize the online training process and stress the real-world benefits. Make anecdotes more interactive by adding images, videos, and background audio that sets the mood.

6. Use A Responsive Design eLearning Authoring Tool

Accessibility is also a crucial part of online training personalization. Employees must be able to access the online training materials on their preferred devices when it’s most convenient for them. A responsive design eLearning authoring tool allows you to deploy multiplatform-friendly online training courses that cater to employees’ needs. The system adjusts the online training content based on the device. For example, the PC version of the online training course features larger images and fonts to accommodate the larger screen size. Responsive design makes corporate learners feel like the online training course was created for them, instead of having to switch to another device to get the full experience.

7. Include A Good Mix Of Online Training Resources

People assimilate information in different ways and at different speeds, which is why you should incorporate a good variety of online training resources and allow employees to pick-and-choose. For instance, some employees might prefer listening to a podcast that features task performance tips while others enjoy kinesthetic activities, such as drag-and-drop serious games. Once again, you can always curate online training resources to mix things up and cater to different learning preferences.

8. Add Relatable Characters

There are a variety of ways to incorporate characters into your eLearning course design. For example, an eLearning course guide who offers helpful hints along the way or a compelling story that features a protagonist employees can root for. The key is to make these characters relatable so that corporate learners see things from a different perspective. Employees are able to put themselves in their shoes and fully immerse in the situation. Thus, fostering an emotional connection that enriches the online training experience.

First Things First

Before you utilize these 8 tips to create more personalized online training content, it’s wise to research your corporate audience. You must identify their needs, preferences, and goals so that you can provide them with the most relevant online training activities. Conduct eLearning assessments, surveys, and interviews to gauge their expectations. LMS reports can also reveal ways to personalize online training. For instance, employees frequently access a specific branching scenario that centers on interpersonal skills. Therefore, you may want to develop online training activities that explore related sub-skills, such as communication or conflict resolution.

Personalized online training doesn’t have to cost a small fortune or slow down the eLearning development timeline. These 8 tips can help you provide more relatable online training resources that benefit every member of your team even if they come from different backgrounds and have diverse training needs.

About the Author

Christopher Pappas, Founder of the eLearning Industry

Christopher Pappas is founder of The eLearning Industry’s Network, which is the largest online community of professionals involved in the eLearning Industry. Christopher holds an MBA, and an MEd (Learning Design) from BGSU. eLearning Blogger | EduTechpreneur | eLearning Analyst | Speaker | Social Media Addict