Would you like to innovate your training offering by introducing eLearning in your company, but aren’t sure where to start? Are you afraid that the introduction of e-learning will not be accepted as it should be? Do you encounter a lot of internal resistance whenever you mention it? Let’s discover the 4 basic steps needed to launch a company eLearning experience in an informed manner. STEP 1: CHOOSING THE ELEARNING PLATFORM The first distinction you need to make when choosing the ideal environment is between the types of platform available, which are either open source or proprietary:
- open source – available for free, modular, updated frequently by a wide community of developers, quick to set up and implemented at reasonable cost
- proprietary – need to be bought, include continuous assistance provided by the seller, but have the great disadvantage of not being customisable.
STEP 2: IDENTIFYING AND DESIGNING CONTENT CONTENT FOR STARTING UP Consider the topics of widespread interest to the entire workforce:
- courses in the field of compulsory education, for teaching the regulations that all employees are required to know
- induction courses for new hire training.
CONTENT FOR CARRYING ON
- After the initial experiments, you can begin to expand the field of application:
- courses to introduce new software in the company, facilitating the learning process and providing a kind of how to tool that is perennially available
- product training to facilitate the sales network and increase their specialisation
- explain the performance management systems to both assessors and persons assessed, facilitating their internalisation
- outline and display the business processes and procedures so that they may be more readily understood
- involve the company’s management with effective and engaging managerial courses.
STEP 3: CHOOSING THE METHODOLOGY AND THE MOST SUITABLE LANGUAGE for the design of the training path. Remember that the eLearning method can make even the most difficult content captivating. Visual thinking and infographic representations facilitate the understanding of the concepts in eLearning paths. Existing PowerPoint content, considered the cornerstone of the corporate knowledge base, can be reorganised in shape and form and transformed into multimedia video tutorials. By developing the necessary skills within the company, you can get to the stage whereby you can produce your own eLearning courses. Another method that the company can manage independently is training via webinars, in which the intervention of a trainer and the slides utilised can be transformed into content for the eLearning platform. Do not underestimate the importance of the design and look of eLearning: it is all too often associated with boredom and sluggishness, thereby tarnishing a fundamental innovation in the field of learning. STEP 4: COMMUNICATING AND ENGAGING PARTICIPANTS Pay care and attention not only to the launch and communication of each new training path, but design its look in detail to enhance the content and transform training into an exciting and pleasurable experience. By using the most suitable language, you will be able to engage people and accompany them in their learning experience. Before launching this important change, engage the internal decision-makers, ensure their support, create a network of supporters, proceed using experimental groups to test the validity of the new approach you are introducing and make adjustments to the project, if necessary. At this point, you can begin your eLearning experience and have every chance of success! Sara Fabiano