Digital learning has taken on a whole new meaning during the pandemic. Increased usage of this medium is significant, in some instances, more than 70 percent increase in digital learning initiatives. With the advent of this increased activity online, some challenges may not be evident off-hand but create a daunting landscape indeed.
Issues faced by online training providers include:
- Increasing engagement
- Creating custom material in limited time
- Reducing costs
- Measuring ROI
- Improving completion rates
- Integrating content into existing LMS’s
- Expanding their training catalog
- Providing access from any device
- Effectively communicating new courses
- Generating relevant reports
- Adapting content to many profiles
- Keeping the attention of the delegates
- Finding ways to involve everyone, not only the visible/active delegates
- Ensuring movement to keep the delegates awake instead of stuck in one position
Etc. etc.
In one particular incident, a client put 73 delegates onto a training workshop being run on Zoom without warning. Challenges, apart from the above-listed ones, included:
- Managing such a large number, including prep time for activities/engagement etc.
- Being able to see only six delegates and all the others were not visible.
- No sound was heard from any delegates since everyone was told to put their mics on mute to ensure no background noise disturbed the meeting.
- With that number, getting involvement is more dangerous than not. Risk of losing control: If even 30 percent of them start asking questions or talking, it becomes unmanageable.
- Material download times and activity management was out the window
The understanding deficit between training providers and the buyers of their services is clear.
Top of the agenda for providers is Engagement. Media mix takes on new meaning, and multiple avenues require utilization and adaptation. These could include:
| · Gamification | · Group activities |
| · AR / VR | · Visuals |
| · AI | · Individual Assessments / Questionnaires |
| · Videos | · Text |
| · Storytelling | · Tests / Quizzes |
| · Online simulations | · Audio |
| · Real life simulations | · Experiential (Hands on) Activities |
| · Brainstorming sessions | · Questions to be responded to on chat |
| · Riddles / puzzles / Energizers | · Team coaching |
| · Self / Team evaluations | · Templates / Best practices / Handouts etc. |
These challenges become more intense if one considers the blended learning model, or virtual or digital options, or even dual facilitators in different locations dealing with delegates based out of multiple locations. Managing connectivity, cultural sensitivities, relevant examples, etc. becomes a formidable undertaking.
Keeping people engaged, interested, involved, and participating was always crucial, but now it is a new discipline. The focus is squarely on ensuring people stay connected, engaged, and present. The deluge of marketing emails one receives for products/approaches/services on the subject is laborious to go through and mostly the same old thing, but re-packaged / re-positioned.
On top of all the above aspects, Self-discipline plays a part since accountability, presence; connection is more challenging to ensure than in a classroom. Sitting on your bed in pajamas is not really pushing one to focus and remain engaged. Technological challenges (Sound quality / Connectivity / WIFI Bandwidth or data plans/printing handouts via downloads from the session) play their part. Additionally, lack of physical connection/contact with peers or the facilitator limits the healthy exchange and flow of thoughts. Instant and visually communicated aspects always take precedence in terms of their importance over a digital connection.
This is not to say digital learning does not have a place or does not add value. It surely does and has played its part in times that did not provide the luxury of physical presence. But, given the opportunity, I would choose the physical realm any day over possible digital options.
For all its ingenuity, progress, and technical prowess, online training cannot replace the human touch/connections one makes with peers/facilitators in a classroom environment. The classroom provides a more conducive environment to engage. Every nuance, eye contact, body movement/language provides insight to the facilitator as to the energy levels, engagement, interest, confusion, etc., that people may be experiencing at any given time in a session/workshop.
For all the challenges mentioned above, there are certainly opportunities / Possible fixes / Mitigation strategies, etc., etc. It is the future and the logical way forward. Just highlighting complexities in this genre that people need to remember when assessing its viability and effectiveness.
The digital revolution was thrust upon us too suddenly, and adaptation to the digital world had to be rapid and instant to survive. Although impressive in its success, its adaptation is ongoing and may take several innovations/iterations before we become comfortable and engaged to gain optimal benefits. It is the future nonetheless, and embrace it we must, albeit with awareness and certain provisos.
