With the advent of cutting-edge technologies in learning management systems (LMS), incorporating gamification, AI/VR, and mobile learning into eLearning platforms is rising to its peak.
However, while running in the race of including the best features in updated LMS, organizations are often on the verge of forgetting the principal objectives of training and development.
This can result in a negative ROI for the entire process of developing an eLearning platform for the organization. Improper use or overdose of these features increases engagement but can shift learners’ focus from learning and development to entertainment solely.
Thus, to justify the objective of training and development, let us first understand what these principles are:
Primary Goals Of Training And Development
One of the major roles of human resource management is training and development, which aims to enhance and sharpen an employee’s abilities and performance in a company.
There are majorly four objectives, namely individual, organizational, functional, and societal objectives of training employees in an organization.
Individual Objectives
Assist workers in reaching their objectives, hence increasing individual contribution to a business. Also leads to increased engagement and retention.
Organizational Objectives
Contribute to the organization’s fundamental goal via increasing individual effectiveness.
Functional Objectives
Keep the department’s contribution at a level that meets the demands of the company.
Societal Objectives
Ensure that an organization is morally and socially accountable to society’s demands and difficulties.
To meet these principal objectives, certain distractions should be avoided that could interfere with the purpose of a training program for an organization.
The following are the practices that need to be avoided for increasing the right type of learner’s engagement.
Design And Development Practices That Can Distract From Learning Outcomes
1. Controversial images and videos
In general, images and visuals are excellent learning aids. They are a boon to online learners because they allow users to correlate content with visual representations, making it easier to retain the information being presented. However, while using images, being cautious is crucial.
Tips:
- You must understand your target audience and their demographics to understand how the visuals might relate to them.
- Audio should be chosen carefully to adjust the mood for a scene. Sound design should be for engagement, not entertainment.
2. Illegible font
The font that is hard to read makes learning difficult for learners and may finally lead to their distraction.
Remember that your goal is to give learners a complete learning experience. As a result, we would advise you to make the font and style of documents as plain as possible, so that learners are not confused as they proceed through the text.
Tip:
Fonts like Times New Roman, Open Sans, and Calibri are simple and easy to read.
3. Icons leading to complex navigation
New or lost learners can use navigation symbols to help them find their way around. Easy and straightforward navigation icons instruct them where to look for the information they need.
Overcrowding your e-learning software with navigation icons, on the other hand, may confuse them. Users won’t be able to select which icon to click for a specific path since there are too many to pick from.
Tip:
The eLearning platform’s user interface must be simple to navigate.
4. Excessive use of interactive gamification via VR, AI, 3D
Using interactive videos powered by virtual reality, artificial intelligence, complex charts, and graphs will engage learners in the course content and will also help trainers analyze the performance of trainees easily.
However, excessive use of these modern technologies will distract the learner from the actual purpose of training. The learner can get involved in achieving competitive gaming scores and earning badges rather than understanding the logic and concept behind the questions.
Tip:
Limit the use of AI and VR in course content. Use them where it is required.
You can also take inspiration from AbsorbTraining whose design focuses not only on how to construct engaging courses, but it also puts in place such a technology that allows enterprises all over the world to fulfill their learning goals and objectives.
5. Uncontrolled live eLearning events and interactions
The opportunity to ask questions in live events, live workshops, chat-bots, and peer interactions can make online learners more focused and involved.
Uncontrolled interaction, on the other hand, will result in gossip and time waste during eLearning.
Tip:
You can limit the use of chat-bots and other live interactions by making them time-bound for every learner.
Conclusion
The purpose of training and development is to ensure that an organization has access to skilled and willing employees. Considering individual, corporate, functional, and societal training and development objectives when designing, updating, and developing an eLearning course can reduce distractions and maximize ROI.