There are a lot of good reasons to invest in employee training programs.
Workplace safety is one of the most important. Basing your employee training program on a solid foundation of workplace safety can help ensure that your company stays in business. Developing and maintaining a safe work culture through quality training in safety procedures reduces the risk of workplace injuries and potential lawsuits.
Other benefits of employee training programs include higher employee engagement, retention and productivity rates, all of which translate into increased profits. In fact, a study of 2500 organizations conducted by The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) revealed that companies that provided comprehensive training programs generated 218% more income per employee.
Employee training has become so important that there is an entire industry devoted to developing effective LMS (Learning Management Systems) software.
According to the Brandon Hall Group’s 2014 Learning and Development Benchmarking Study, over 50% of companies have revised their learning strategies less that twice within the last five years. The study concluded that while many companies were investing in external consultants and internal learning and development staff, most were not yet fully utilizing technology for maximum benefit.
Industry experts recommend that companies adopt employee training programs that utilize these five key elements:
mobile technology
social learning tools,
corporate objectives,
adaptive learning principles
measuring effectiveness
1. Mobile Technology
Currently, only 10 percent of companies are utilizing mobile Web-based learning solutions. Mobile learning solutions have been shown to engage users more as well as expand a company’s global reach. While most companies use document sharing, blogs and discussion forums, they aren’t utilizing mobile technology to the fullest.
Research shows that the use of video is more effective than text in improving learning function. Increased use of social media and conferencing technologies can increase collaboration.
2. Adaptive Learning
Adaptive learning allows employees to learn at their own pace. Courses are developed incorporating information about individual learning styles. When it comes to learning, one size doesn’t fit all. Today’s automated digital learning platforms utilize predictive modeling, and learning analytics based on the latest research in cognitive brain science.
One example of adaptive learning is the Open Learning Initiative at Carnegie Mellon. A study of the program revealed that students in the adaptive learning program took 50% less time to learn the content and that their academic performance was equal to or better than that of students in a traditional program.
3. Social Learning Tools
While formal training is important, studies show that up to 70% of on-the-job learning is the result of informal knowledge sharing. They also show that employees are 75% more likely to watch a video than read an article. That’s why it’s essential that companies provide multiple methods of sharing information.
One expert recommends forming online discussion groups and supportive learning communities. Creating an online knowledge centers with PDFs and videos that can be accessed through keyword searches is also an effective way to supplement formal training procedures.
4. Corporate Objectives
Employee orientation training should include an introduction to your company’s corporate structure and guidelines for workplace conduct as well as familiarizing employees with their job duties. Emphasizing workplace safety during orientation will save your company time and money since workplace injuries result in lost productivity and higher insurance premiums.
Time management, including planning, problem-solving and delegation should also be emphasized to help your employees make the most of their resources.
5. Measuring Effectiveness
Technology now allows employees to submit video and audio recordings of completing tasks using information obtained during training. Those recordings can be used as a tool to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the training and fine-tune procedures.
The ability to teach others a recently learned skill is perhaps the best measurement of effectiveness. Peer teaching also increases employees’ sense of ownership and pride in their abilities.
Fortunately, LMS (Learning Management Systems) software incorporates all five of those elements, allowing managers to make the most of every new technological advancement.
SmarterU features an online course editor, instructor-led training capability, and a gamification tool that provides a fun way for employees to retain the material they’ve just learned. Innovative training raises employees’ competency levels and helps create a culture of accountability and greater job satisfaction.
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