Making Online Training More Effective

Digital learning has been growing in importance over the years, but the pandemic has made it a necessity for employee development, talent retention, and remaining competitive in a rapidly evolving business landscape. This has led to many companies relying on learning management systems (LMSs) for onboarding and training. However, this dependence might be detrimental in the long run. Studies have shown that LMS learning is quickly forgotten—often within hours of taking an online course. A recent study referred to the so-called “forgetting curve” demonstrated that 50 percent of what an employee learns has been forgotten within an hour of a training session, and that number jumps to 70 percent the day after. Part of the problem is that this training is rarely reinforced, lacks digestibility and flexibility, and is sometimes difficult to access. To ensure training is more impactful, focus on small, reinforceable lessons. Consider making things hands-on and real-world applicable when possible. Promote flexibility and on-demand access with training modules, and make sure information is easily accessible for future use.