Why you should switch from On-Site to Online Training

Online training provides maximum benefits for minimum resources. It is intensive, thorough, and can be specifically tailored to your needs. It is also an effective time management tool, as employees can build skills and professional knowledge whenever it's most convenient. Thus, your staff can increase their proficiency without interfering with daily work duties. The list of online training benefits just goes on from there. Here are the top 7 reasons why you may want to think about switching from on-site to online training within your organization.

1. Improved Memory Retention

One of the biggest arguments against on-site training is how little employees remember after the fact. Think about all the years you spent as a student. Now think about how much you remember from that time period. Unfortunately, the forgetting curve tends to rob us of our knowledge. Only experiences that cater to our needs and allow for immediate application boost memory retention. eLearning courses zone training into specific areas of knowledge to increase its relevancy. Employees only learn what they need, so they’re far more likely to retain the takeaways.

2. Employees Can Work Around Their Personal Schedules

On-site training is quickly becoming obsolete in the modern world. Work, long commutes, families, hobbies, and many other things occupy your employees' time. Thus, they no longer have the luxury of taking a few months or even a few years to develop their talents. Online training offers them the advantage of working at their own pace, whenever it fits into their schedule. Online training resources are accessible anytime, which makes online training a more flexible option for busy adult learners.

3. Provides Just-In-Time Support

On-site training takes place at a set time in a specific location. Therefore, employees are unable to access the training resources on the job. Instead, they must wait for the next scheduled training session. Online training allows them to address their concerns and overcome challenges at a moment's notice. For example, a microlearning online training library gives them access to a broad range of just-in-time support resources. Employees have the power to focus on specific areas for improvement to bridge performance gaps. Another valuable "moment of need" tool is social learning. For instance, social media groups or online discussions where employees can ask questions or share tips.

4. Imparts Practical Skills

Online training gives employees the opportunity to apply what they've learned. Thus, it's based more on practical experience than theory. Employees can learn everything from how to run a meeting, manage the company books, or provide superior customer service. Employees develop skill sets they can use in their everyday life and apply directly in the workplace. You can even facilitate skill-building with real-world scenarios, simulations, and examples. For instance, a task-based simulation that features customer personas where employees must use communication and sales skills to meet the customer's needs, or a branching scenario that centers on a conflict with a co-worker. In this case, employees must use problem-solving skills to get the team back on track.

5. Caters to Different Learning Preferences

Your audience consists of different backgrounds and experience levels. For example, there are more people over sixty but there is also an abundance of younger generations in the corporate workforce. These workers have been around computers their whole lives. Growing up, they were more likely to have a smartphone than a traditional toy. They probably acquired their skills through mobile apps and YouTube online training tutorials. This generation learns more effectively through the online training techniques that come so naturally to them. Online training holds their attention and engages them in a more meaningful way.

6. Enhances Employee Excitement and Engagement

One of the most effective techniques in eLearning course design is gamification. Gamified online training courses feature rewards, levels, and other game mechanics, all of which are framed by a traditional online training course structure. Employees are able to achieve measurable milestones and proudly display their accomplishments. Even online quizzes are structured to re-assure corporate learners by showing them what they already know and encouraging them to dig deeper. Plus, they offer the added benefit of immediate eLearning feedback and recommendations. All of this results in increased employee engagement and motivation. Employees can monitor their own performance and celebrate their achievements, which encourages active participation.

7. Put Employees in Control

Online training put employees in the driver’s seat of their Learning and Development. They get to decide how long to train, when to complete tasks, and how to structure their own development paths. The online training course is available 24/7, so they aren't required to keep up with their peers. You can empower your remote employees by creating clickable course maps and microlearning online training repositories. This way they have the ability to piece together personalized online training paths that improve core proficiencies. Emphasize the benefits of active participation so that they are more motivated to learn and invite them to mentor less experienced employees so that they can pass on their skills and insights.

Online training provides significant benefits for individual employees and organizations alike. It allows your staff members to work together, giving everyone the resources, they need when they need them the most. Online training is also more cost-effective than on-site alternatives, as you don't have to foot the bill for the instructor's travel expenses, site rental fees, or printed materials. If you're still unsure about making the switch from on-site to online training, consider a blended learning program. This enables you to gradually introduce learning technologies to your employees and steadily build an online training repository.