Even though in comparative development corporate eLearning has grown by a stunning 900% since 2000, multiple training programs are still offered in an old-fashioned way of delivering eLearning courses. This leads to limited engagement and, in some cases, to the failure of the whole training programme. Those are the most common issues that eLearning programs face today, as well as tips to avoid them.


1. Lack Of Engagement

Many trainees may quit courses or skip classes outright if they perceive them as dull. Older training programs were primarily one-dimensional, mainly made of text.

By 2019, the video will be in charge of 80% of the web activity on the planet.

This is because modern learners are hungry for media. Thus, unless there are enough videos, sounds, and graphics, the content won’t engage the users. Besides, it’s crucial for eLearning programs to offer the users a sense of progression and achievement. People like to feel a sense of achievement whenever they do something. Employees are no different when it comes to training and development. Therefore, there must be gamified tests and ways for the learners to check their progression, otherwise, they may feel that they are not getting anywhere. With that in mind, course designers may want to add leaderboards and a ranking system that will definitely boost competition among the learners and eventually improve user dedication towards the program.

2. Lack Of Interactivity

One of the most common reasons that lead to the failure of some eLearning programs is the lack of proper interactions demanded from the user. A simple demonstration of new knowledge is not enough. It is of utmost importance to provide opportunities to the learners to actively engage with the tutors, other students or even the course itself. The learner needs to practice their new skills in meaningful activities and interact with other students in various conversations. This interactivity will help the student overcome the fear created because of the distance barrier’s insecurity. Educators play a vital role since they can make students interact and cooperate with other participants synchronously or asynchronously, encouraging them to respond to their questions by creating a learning community. 

3. Teacher-Centered Approach/Inadequate Educators

Educators should be present but should not be dominant. They should steer the conversation but never monopolize the discussion. They should interact with the learners frequently and make sure everyone has the chance to participate, but they shouldn’t, under any circumstances, overshadow them. The educator has to be active and well informed in order to provide continuous support when needed. This is essential since feedback must be regular so that the learner will not feel abandoned in an inactive or low-value training program. So, make sure that the eLearning program you are teaching provides adequate opportunities for the students to talk and interact, otherwise you may face its failure.

4. Information Overload

In order to minimize logistical expenses, it’s common for companies to offer intensive training programs that last for a day or even days. The reality is that people can’t absorb and remember all of that information in that limited amount of time, meaning that even more than usual of what’s taught will be quickly forgotten and eventually lost.

Millennials have a shorter attention span compared to previous generations, making the breaking of eLearning material into more manageable chunks of information necessary. This is called microlearning. Microlearning breaks information content into small-, easy-, and fast-to-consume parts, which helps learners achieve one distinctive objective at a time. 

5. Need For Real-World Application

The Research Institute of America found that eLearning increases retention rates from 25% to 60%, while retention rates of face-to-face training are very low in comparison: 8% to 10%. On the other hand, knowledge retention will diminish fast if the learner doesn’t use the acquired skills after training. It is common for some training programs not to give the learner a way to practice new knowledge.

A successful training program is necessary to provide the user with the means to connect the information learned in real-life situations. So the program should incorporate ways for the learner to practice new knowledge. After all, a training program delivers value for an organization only when it aligns with employees’ expectations and improves business performance.

6. Not Mobile Friendly

An eLearning course has to be not only meaningful and engaging but easily accessible as well. Another common reason of failure in eLearning is the lack of mobile optimization. If the training program is not mobile optimized, it is highly doubtful that it will satisfy the participants’ needs. People use mobile devices a lot more than they use personal computers. This is because it’s possible to use portable devices whenever, wherever. People use mobile devices all day long. They watch videos, play video games, interact with others while lying on their beds while waiting at the metro station, or even watching TV. Therefore, you should develop eLearning training programs in a way that will be friendly for mobile devices.

Conclusion

Other factors certainly contribute to the failure of some eLearning training programs, but those mentioned in this article are some of the most common ones. If those six issues are considered, many potential problems won’t arise, and the trainees will definitely enjoy a far more intriguing and productive learning experience.

 

The article was originally posted here