It's an exciting day when your learning technology gets installed. Whether you're replacing an existing learning management system or starting fresh, your success will depend on how you demonstrate its benefits to your staff. Here's how to get your workforce to log on and learn.
Provide context & make it simple
First, you need to show employees that your new LMS is accessible and can serve their needs. Start with a demo showcasing its most impactful features, and consider microlearning modules that demonstrate, in more detail, the offerings tailored to their unique roles.
Employees will appreciate seeing the extent to which an LMS can integrate with other applications to help them grow, delivering both learning and convenience. Sales reps judged solely on performance and delivery, for example, can up their game through an integration with Salesforce.com, which enables them to enroll in courses on the go from a catalog directly in Salesforce. They can even assign customers—Accounts and Contacts—to their own courses.
Busy workers in the field will welcome the flexibility of microlearning. This can break down a long-term training exercise into manageable chunks of information, help new clients get trained quickly on product features and empower remote employees to be their own IT heroes via troubleshooting modules.
Engage learners online & offline
Employees learn differently, so develop trainings that fit varied learning styles. You'll want to accommodate visual learners, experiential learners and those needing one-to-one interaction via lectures or classroom instruction. The combination of online and offline training in one tidy LMS package can expand user options, empowering them to get what they want, in the format they want it.
For instance, certain industry verticals require multiple learning modalities. While warehouse workers need hands-on safety training to operate a baler, other training topics can be delivered via video or interactive quiz. A robust LMS can accommodate them all.
Offer individualized instruction
An effective LMS is extremely customizable, creating individualized training that meets the needs of every learner. With group training it's rare that everyone is at the same level. You can respond by adapting interfaces to fit learners of similar skill sets and abilities, and building queues into training modules that allow each person to advance at their own pace. High performers can move through the training quickly, saving them time, which is a boon to busy workers.
Get social & encourage collaboration
Learning shouldn't happen in a bubble. To show users how they can get the most from your LMS, point to social features that allow them to compare their experiences, ask questions and rate courses. With the popularity of TED Talks and proliferation of how-to videos on YouTube and other video sharing sites, they can upload relevant multimedia assets to supplement the course catalog. The addition of this user-generated content may spark ideas for new courses that excite and inspire both new and established system users.
To maintain a steady flow of interaction in the LMS, consider gamifying involvement and offering rewards or recognition to power users. Fuel people's competitive spirit to encourage adoption.
Next steps for learning technology success
High user adoption will ultimately put the spotlight on your learning and development curriculum and how it's positively impacting your business's bottom line. Start by providing varied learner experiences in your LMS, using online and offline learning, individualized instruction, and social and collaborative experiences. Keep tabs on what's getting the most learner engagement, then build on it. In no time, your learning technology fan club will grow beyond employees, all the way to the C-suite.
