Hi I’m Mary Ball! I am an adjunct instructor at Midland University and I teach in their Master of Science in Learning and Talent Development (MS-LTD) program. As an instructional designer with 10 years of experience, I have seen firsthand how advances in technology have influenced the development and delivery of employee training.
There are many factors to consider when designing and developing employee training delivered online such as branding, number of employees, gaps in knowledge, or technical skills. Some technologies include audio and video recording software, graphic design software, presentation software, course authoring tools, and a learning management system (LMS), such as Canvas by Instructure.
7 Ways to Implement Technology in Training
When it comes to implementing online training, it’s important to think of all of the elements you need to ensure that employees are properly supported throughout the entire training process. According to Shift, organizations should pay close attention to the following:
- Set clear, measurable objectives
- Devise a detailed LMS plan
- Assign team leaders and determine roles and responsibilities
- Establish performance metrics or standards
- Devise risk management guidelines
- Arrange a training timetable
- Communicate and promote the training to the target audience.
Value of Technology in Training
Technology is valuable in training because it allows the entire process to be tailored to an individual or the needs of a group. All online trainings serve a purpose, some trainings may be focused on the following elements:
- Responsiveness
- Training can be responsive with a set of predetermined paths dictated by how the individual or group responds to specific questions.
- Feedback
- Feedback can be given to correct inaccurate responses with detailed explanations and reasoning.
- Accessibility
- Vision and hearing-impaired individuals can access content using assistive technology, such as a screen reader.
Another benefit of technology training is that it can be used anywhere at any time for any reason. Whether an employee needs to complete the training at their own pace or to reference it later for a refresher, they have the flexibility to use the training as a resource.
My Advice
My advice for anyone who is trying to implement online training is to use a comprehensive approach. A comprehensive approach involves paying attention to the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the employees to ensure they can complete the training successfully.
