How to Effectively Engage Learners through eLearning Courses

How to Effectively Engage Learners through eLearning Courses

June 16, 2014

Posted by

Adam Noll

The rapid and widespread transition to the online learning environment has led many industry leaders to question the effectiveness of wholly web-based instruction. Online training, however, is fast proving itself to be the most efficient way for professionals to advance their skills, stay abreast of new developments and network with their peers.

With the right platforms in place, students have the best opportunity to get timely answers to their questions, access high-quality visuals that increase their comprehension of new and complex topics, and improve their overall levels professional competency.

Following are several strategies that can be used to help learners fully engage when participating in eLearning through an online training program.

Online Training Curriculum That Reflects The Needs Of The Industry

Learners tend to be far more motivated and involved in the online training process when they are developing skills that can be directly applied to the jobs they do. People who care about their careers are often eager to adopt new strategies for becoming more efficient and effective in their roles. They also recognize the importance of staying on top of recent industry innovations so they can remain relevant in their fields. Thus, the careful selection of industry-specific forms of online training will have a definite impact on student engagement.

Interactive Experiences In Online Training

The ability to interact with instructors and fellow trainees is one thing many critics think online training lacks. In reality, however, there are far fewer restrictions on time and accessibility when learning in virtual space. In online training programs students typically have continual access to their instructors and can use various platforms to send and receive messages or access helpful resources. This means that a good online training program must have a variety of interactive components.

When it comes to peer-to-peer interactions, the best options in online training offer an array of forums students can use to connect with other trainees who have either completed their current programs or are currently working their way through them. This gives students the opportunity to bounce ideas off one another, solve problems and develop new study strategies and skills.

Game-Based Learning And Access To Visuals

People of all ages love playing games and most find that the process of playing is often one of the easiest ways to grasp new concepts and develop an optimal level of comprehension. Online training contains many of the visual elements people need and that traditional learning environments often lack. Rather than relying solely on workbooks or textbooks, students should be able to pit their skills and knowledge against other trainees in interactive and course-related games, refer to high-quality infographics and rely on an array of exciting, detailed and highly informative videos and other visuals that help to break complex subject matter down into a more digestible format.

Online Training That Provides Hands-On Experience In A Risk-Free Environment

When it comes to online training, doing will always trump reading. Although there is a lot students can learn from books, getting hands-on experience is a much better way to ensure the total comprehension and retention of study materials than long hours spent turning pages. This is another way in which online training proves itself comparable and even better than the traditional learning environment. Web-based courses must include simulations that reflect sectional materials. Online training simulations help students process the new information they have received and put this into action. Therefore, when it come to increased preparedness for the demands of the workplace, having access to realistic simulations in a risk-free environment is vital.

Custom eLearning Services

Looking for specialized trainings, content conversion, reporting, or more custom eLearning solutions? We're here to help take the guess work out of your digital training journey.