Tips to Overcome the Top 6 eLearning Barriers Preventing Learners’ Engagement
Rolling out eLearning within your organization can bring about many challenges. Listed below are the top 6 obstacles you could face and our quick tips as to what you can do to overcome them.
#1 limited tech experience:
For non-tech savvy individuals, there is sometimes a fear that comes with having to complete online learning. This is often rooted in the preconception that in order to complete digital tasks, a certain level of technical knowledge is required.
What you can do: create online demos and webinars that offer help and guidance when it comes to accessing and utilizing the Learning Management System in question.
#2 past experience:
We have all been there, dreading eLearning due to bad (or worse, boring) past experiences.
What you can do: Get your learners excited about your eLearning program. Stress the advantages of the course in advance and explain how it will benefit them in their daily lives. Be clear about what they should expect when they undertake the course.
#3 lack of motivation:
Linking in with boring past experiences, a lack of motivation can be one of the biggest pushbacks when implementing eLearning.
What you can do: Get your learners actively involved and engaged in the learning process via gamification. At the most basic level, examples of this might be the inclusion of badges, certificates, points, and leadership boards to give the learners motivation to achieve the desired outcomes.
#4 challenging eLearning materials:
Easy learning means learners become bored. Difficult learning means learners become frustrated and may just give up! So how do you find the balance?
What you can do: Research your audience and carry out pre-assessments (diagnostics) to find the ideal level of challenge.
#5 lack of community involvement:
eLearning can be perceived as a lonely task…sitting behind your desk clicking through the content…
What you can do: Build an online community group where learners can create forums, open up discussions on topics, and share knowledge and tips.
#6 learner boredom:
There is no magical solution to take away the boredom factor altogether. However, you can take the necessary steps to make eLearning more inspiring and engaging:
What you can do: identify the learners’ expectations, needs, and goals. Include real-life challenges, scenarios, and problem-solving cases. Develop personal learning paths that allow online learners to choose their own learning activities (self-directed learning).
Obstacles organizations face often go beyond the 6 points listed above. As an organization invested in the continued development of your employees - both professionally and personally - it is important to help them overcome the misconceptions and barriers of eLearning.
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