Remote training has been on the rise since the rapid digital technological advancements began a decade ago. However, it went to a whole different level over the last one and a half years because of the pandemic. Organizations had no option but to train and manage their workforce digitally and the trend is here to stay. Organizations have seen the benefits of remote training, it’s cost-effective and flexible at the same time too. This is the reason why organizations are willing to continue this online or remote learning.
Remote learning has been very new to the majority of the population so it wasn’t easy to embrace the change easily. You need to have a specific strategy to make it successful as you do it for any new business process. To help you better with this, we have listed down a few tips that can help you manage remote training.
1)Set up the equipment needed:
The first and foremost thing you have to do is to set up all the equipment needed for training. In the office, employees have laptops, a dedicated space, and a conference room for training. However, it is very hard to replicate the exact setup but you can come close to it. Ensure all your employees have the technological resources to participate in training. A laptop, microphone, and a good internet connection are a must for online learning.
2)Communication:
When there is no physical presence, it’s hard to gauge the concentration levels and interest of the learners. But you can make that up with effective communication during the lectures. Look for a tool that has live chat options. For instance, you can opt for learning management systems like SAP Litmos which has live chat options and many other features that help you to deliver your online lectures more effectively.
3)Make it more flexible:
At times, it becomes hard to sit in front of a laptop for eight hours and then for a few more times to attend the training. To counter this issue, ensure you offer a flexible learning option. Schedule a live lecture if the topic demands and is necessary. Topics that can be self-learned don’t need live lectures as they can be learned through recorded videos or learning materials. However, if you only encourage this type of learning, engagement might drop. So, find the right balance and conduct live sessions and also provide recorded videos as well.
4)Create groups:
The complaint that often poses in remote learning is less interaction and a feeling of isolation. Employees tend to engage with the course better if he/she has a subordinate or a colleague with whom they can share their ideas and discuss their doubts. They also feel more comfortable asking questions to their peers than waiting for the tutor to respond to their queries. You can also create social media groups and include all the learners and the tutor so that they all can post their doubts and discuss various topics.
5)Follow up with them:
As a manager, you need to follow up with your remote team regularly just to ensure everything is going smoothly. If you keep track of their progress, they feel more accountable and the results will follow. One-on-one calls twice a week or at least once a week would be the best option. There isn’t a fixed format or one-size-fits-all approach to this, you need to figure out what suits you the best for you and your learners.
Conclusion:
To wrap up, just like any other thing, remote learning also needs an effective strategy, trial, and error and experimentation with various approaches to find out what works for you. Whatever approach you pick up, ensure it benefits your learners and aligns with the goals and objectives of the organization. We hope this article helps you in managing your online training more effectively.