With the remote, aka aloof learner no longer a part of the physical class or team where group dynamics play a major role in motivation, performance on the job, and learning behavior suffer. The individual learning styles and limitations of the delivery model in isolation become another critical factor in terms of garnering higher learner engagement and training outcomes.
Leveraging learner variability
Challenge during learning
Some learners are self-learners and prefer self-paced courses. Others require a webinar-styled live interaction to sustain their curiosity and motivation to learn. Employee attitudes toward learning initiatives can range from being highly antagonistic to highly ambitious with all shades in between. There is an urgent need to ensure that different types of learners are engaged optimally and refrain from dropping out earlier from courses. In remote, aka aloof working scenario that is the new normal, how do we bring in balance and make learning meaningful to all?
Solution
The solution irrevocably lies in the way we harness technology to keep the tempo of training and learning high. Blending both the worlds of asynchronous and synchronous learning (e.g.: webinars) meaningfully can be the way for L&D practitioners to surmount the challenge of encompassing all the learning styles and increasing collaboration and interaction.
Here are some practical steps which can increase the engagement quotient of webinars:
1. Vary event formats
Mix and match the formats for a highly engaging experience. Your options include:
- masterclass sessions,
- panel discussion
- live Q&A sessions,
- live videos,
- gamification
2. Use diverse learning elements
Effectively incorporate pre-recorded elements, live-streaming and slides amidst real-time conversation to create more value.
3. Create space for audience participation
Liven up your lessons and keep students engaged with a variety of activities! Think role-playing, breakout rooms, think-pair-share discussions, analyzing real-world examples (case studies), open talks, virtual presentations (show-and-tell), summarizing key points, step-by-step walkthroughs, and experience sharing. And remember interactive whiteboards! Let students participate by drawing or writing directly on the board to boost engagement.
4. Invite questions
Ask for comments and questions from participants every five minutes to not let the engagement flag. In a fireside chat, facilitate the audience to message the moderator to ask questions. Questions that force learners to choose sides and stay invested.
5. Social check-in
An informal chat and use of names encourage higher active participation later.
6. Call to action during learning
Strategically place live polls, up-votes, and surveys to make learners participate actively. CTA buttons like emojis, raise hands trigger the learner to be active.
7. Delegate responsibilities
Assign group leaders for break-out room activities. Depute participants for staff roles for the day: advancing slides, muting or unmuting, fielding questions, chat administrator, screen sharing etc.
Read also: KPIs of Educational Projects: How to Measure Performance
Blended learning
Blended learning conventionally is considered a combination of digital and face-to-face training sessions. However, it has evolved to become the coalescence of synchronous and asynchronous learning methods that create a blend that completely lives in the digital space. While the appetite to have a live interaction, communicating and collaborating in real-time as in face-to-face training of the past is taken care of through synchronous sessions, self-paced independent study and practice happen in own-time asynchronously.
The trick is to strengthen the enablers and remove the blockers of learning behavior. Buttress synchronous webinars with a lot of asynchronous learning activities to not only create value during webinars but also take care of the interests of learners who need more autonomy, personalized approach, flexibility, want to take things at their own pace, revise or maybe catch up on a missed session. Figuring out the right combination to maximize impact is the key to effective training sessions.
A well-planned training that has something to offer to each kind of remote learner is likely to have five components:
- Pre-learning — a part of onboarding done online before your official start date. Think of it as homework covering what you need to know beforehand. This might include course outlines, the agenda, rules, and initial reading materials.
- As discussed earlier, core learning — synchronous learning methods may include webinars with varied presentation formats.
- Post-learning — revising, reading and understanding, case studies, etc., using asynchronous learning methods
- Assessment — use of asynchronous methods to determine how much of the learning outcome or competency has been achieved. It also helps to evaluate what kind of follow-up, revision, or iteration in modules is required.
- Follow-up/Refresher — synchronous methods for case studies analysis, discussions, etc., in a webinar.
All the asynchronous learning activities that mainly are undertaken in a self-paced autonomous mode before attending a live session are considered pre-session activities. Learners can prepare by going through micro modules, pre-recorded videos, video lectures, PDFs, documents, etc. Those are introductory and knowledge-based, case studies, step-by-step procedures, demonstrations, previous session videos, product features, etc.
Post-webinar activities are a crucial part of asynchronous learning. These activities, like guided practice, reflection, assignments, quizzes, and in-depth readings, reinforce the knowledge from the webinar. They deepen understanding and help learners apply what they’ve learned.
Leverage our employee-generated learning model to co-author, collaborate, review and quickly update and distribute content. In addition, it ensures that all your modules are customized and relevant. Built with a focus on ease of creation and the WYSIWYG interface, it is a worthy partner in your journey.
Conclusion
A well-thought-balanced combination of synchronous and asynchronous strategies makes the best use of the affordances while circumventing the constraints of each. They positively reinforce each other to provide an optimized blended learning experience for your course participants. The increased enrichment, flexibility, autonomy, engagement, and motivation create an umbrella to include all style variability.
Videhi Bhamidi serves as the Principal Strategist at Easygenerator, where she oversees the Didactics and Discovery projects. With more than 15 years of experience in e-learning, user-experience research, and thought-leadership initiatives, she regularly contributes to learning and development magazines. An Oxford alumna, Videhi is dedicated to integrating design, research, technology, and educational methods into her solutions.
