Creating an online training program is a great way to keep employees updated and well-trained in their specific fields. It is cost efficient because it allows you to train workers regardless of where they are. Not only that, your online course can be used in different times as well. It allows you to impart useful information without disrupting the usual flow of the business – since it can be accessed by employees when it is convenient for them. It can also be accessed in the future whenever it is needed.
Not only will your program help the company cut back on time, money and effort, it can most importantly, increase productivity and profitability. At least, this is true if your training course is effective.
To make that happen, you may want to avoid the following mistakes while creating your online training program.
- Creating a course without a definite learning goal. This is what will give your course direction and purpose. Always start with a goal so you can identify who your learners will be, what you want them to learn and even the structure of the lesson. This will allow you to focus on the data that you want to impart to your learners. After all, you want to keep your training program brief since your learners are all busy with their own workloads.
- Failing to connect it to actual scenarios. It is always important that your learners are able to relate to what they are trying to learn. Unlike in schools, employees are expected to implement the new skills and information that they learned immediately. That is how the training program can help make the company profit more. The only way that learners can implement what you trained them for is when you can clearly define how it relates to their own work.
- Using only texts in your course. Text, while it is important in your course, should never be the only thing that the learners will see. The main reason for that is boredom. You do not want to bore your learners that they will lose interest in understanding what you want to teach them. Incorporate images, videos and other multimedia effects into your program so your learners can stay hooked. Only retain the key words and use images for the rest.
- Reusing the same graphics. On the other side of the previous mistake is using the same graphics over and over again. Make sure you give variations. There are a lot of multimedia tools that you can use. You do not have to limit yourself to images alone. Use audio, videos and animations.
- Delivering too much information. Another pitfall that you want to avoid while creating your training program is putting too much information at the same time. If the data is too much, split them up. Remember that your learners have other things to take care of while going through the program. They need to accomplish their daily work load too. Give your course in bite size pieces so each portion of information can be digested well.
- Not including assessment tools. In all courses, it is important for you to know if it is effective or not. This is why you need to have an assessment tool to ensure that your goals are met. It will not only help you correct mistakes, it will allow you to meet expectations so you can improve future courses.
Be cautious of these online training program mistakes so you can be sure that your course will translate into more productive and profitable employees.
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