The Future of Employee Training: How Technology is Changing the Game

Investing in your employees' growth and development is more than just a smart business strategy, it's an essential element for building a thriving workplace culture. With the rapid pace of technological advancement, there's never been a better time to harness technology to empower your employees with the skills they need to thrive in today's business world. From online learning platforms to knowledge sharing tools, there are a variety of innovative technologies that can help you create an environment of continuous learning and development. In this article, we'll explore some of the ways technology can be used to support the onboarding of new hires, employee growth and skill development.

Learning Management Systems

Learning Management Systems (LMS) provide a centralized location for managing and delivering training content, allowing you to track employee progress, generate reports, and analyze learning outcomes. To effectively manage learning and development in the organization, using an LMS is a must. However, not all LMSs are created equal, and choosing the right LMS needs to be an organization’s top priority when it comes to learning and development. An effective LMS should support action-based learning, meaning it should encourage employees to apply what they're learning and not only deliver content and information. An LMS that leads to passive learning is unlikely to be effective in engaging employees and driving long-term behavior change.

Action-based LMSs are usually designed with interactive, hands-on training modules that simulate real-life situations and challenges. This approach allows employees to practice their new skills in a safe environment without the fear of making mistakes. An action-based LMS can help employees retain information better and is more likely to create lasting impact.

Mobile Learning

Mobile learning allows employees to access training programs and resources from their smartphones or tablets, and learn while on the go. Mobile learning makes it easier for employees to fit training into their busy schedules, and is a flexible and convenient approach that can significantly improve engagement and retention rates. 

However, simply providing a mobile-friendly training experience is not enough. The training tools and technologies used for mobile learning should be designed specifically for mobile devices. That means that the user interface, content, and overall experience should be optimized for a mobile screen and user behavior.

An important consideration when designing mobile learning experiences is the unique characteristics of mobile device usage. For example, mobile devices are often used in noisy or distracting environments, such as on public transportation or in a busy coffee shop. That means that learning content and technologies should be designed with this in mind, and should be able to be consumed in short times and small pieces. 

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Microlearning

One of the biggest challenges in employee training is the limited attention span of learners. According to research, the average attention span of an adult learner is only 8 seconds. This means that traditional training methods that require learners to sit through long lectures or training sessions can quickly become boring and ineffective. This is where microlearning comes in. 

By breaking down training content into small, bite-sized pieces, you can help learners to focus on specific topics or skills for short periods of time. This makes it easier for employees to retain information and apply it in their daily work. Microlearning modules are typically designed to be completed in under 10 minutes, making them easy to fit into even the busiest schedules. By breaking down training content into small, digestible pieces, employees can review and reinforce their understanding of the materials over time. This helps to ensure that training is not forgotten and that employees are able to apply what they have learned in their work.

Gamification

Using game-like elements in learning and training initiatives can help to increase engagement and motivation. Gamified learning experiences are more fun and interactive compared to traditional training, allowing employees to learn through play. This approach is based on the idea that people are naturally competitive and enjoy being rewarded for their efforts, and gamification allows companies to tap into these motivations to create more effective learning experiences. Designing gamified team training programs like a scavenger hunt where the employees can implement their training and also boost team building at the same time can be a good approach. You can make dynamic QR codes for all the employees to record their training and share their achievements and rewards.

Badges, leaderboards, and rewards are commonly used gamification elements that can be customized to suit the needs and preferences of different organizations and employees. However, it is important to ensure that gamification is used in conjunction with quality training content, as eventually this is what will determine the effectiveness of the training program.

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Knowledge Management Systems

Knowledge management systems allow organizations to create, share, and utilize the company’s knowledge and expertise. These systems normally consist of a centralized repository where information and resources can be stored and accessed by employees. Using an effective knowledge management system allows organizations to ensure that employees have access to the latest information and best practices. It not only helps to improve productivity and efficiency, but also supports continuous learning and development. In addition, a knowledge management system can help L&D professionals to identify knowledge gaps and areas where additional training is needed. 

Collaboration Tools

Collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams have become an integral part of the modern workplace. In addition to facilitating daily business operations, these tools can also be great for supporting employee growth and development. Microsoft Teams, for example, allows employees to easily communicate and collaborate with colleagues, mentors, and experts from anywhere in the world. However, there are many more enterprise communication tools that your team can use to collaborate, like Slack or Zoom. 

One of the key benefits of using collaboration tools for learning and development is the ability to share ideas and feedback in a timely manner. By creating channels and groups dedicated to specific topics and by using designated apps, employees can share thoughts, ask questions, and provide feedback to one another. This not only promotes collaboration, but also emphasizes the significance of valuing your employees' work while helping them to learn from each other’s experiences and expertise.

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Chatbots

Chatbots can be a powerful tool for supporting employee growth and skill development. They can be integrated into various platforms, such as messaging applications or collaboration tools, making them easily accessible at any time. One of the most significant advantages of chatbots is the speed and efficiency they provide. Employees can submit questions and receive automated answers without having to wait for colleagues to respond.

Integrating top artificial intelligence APIs such as chatbots with a knowledge management system and/or collaboration platform is also a wonderful way to create a one-stop-shop for accessing relevant information and resources. For example, employees can ask the chatbot questions and the chatbot can pull the information from the knowledge management system, or connect the employee with a relevant expert in the organization if needed. 

Last but not least, some chatbots can collect and analyze data on employee questions, which can provide insights into knowledge gaps or areas in which employees might need additional support or resources. This information is incredibly valuable when seeking to improve the organization’s learning and skill-building processes. 

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In summary, technology offers various ways to support employee growth and development. By using powerful learning and knowledge sharing technologies, you can create an engaging and supportive learning environment for your employees. At myQuest, we are committed to building cutting-edge technologies that transform the way people learn and gain new skills. Our mission is to empower individuals and organizations with the solutions they need to achieve their full potential and drive positive change. To that end, we offer myQuest LMS, an action-based LMS that allows organizations to achieve outstanding training results in less time, and myQuest Connect, a Microsoft Teams app that allows employees to submit questions and automatically receive answers from the company's knowledge base or from subject matter experts. 

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