The e-training universe continues soaring forward at top speed. Digital transformation and recent scientific discoveries have entailed striking economic and social transformations that are also mirrored in training and development. From the use of mobile devices to video games, e-training is changing to adapt with the times.
But, before we begin, what is e-training?
This term refers to all the training programs used across electronic media (normally the internet). Here, online accessible elements including videos, slides, video games or other elements can be included. Similar to teaching across an internet platform, which has come to be popularly referred to as e-learning, online training is referred to as e-training.
The new trends in e-training
Companies and public institutions alike are making enormous efforts to update and improve their e-training programs. Consolidation of the digital world and specialized vendors is improving the quality of training programs and introducing important developments in the e-training world. The following are five of the most important ones:
1. Continuous e-training
In keeping with tradition, many companies used to only run training programs for new hires. In other cases, e-training was only done during a short yet intense period of time. Nowadays, the best training programs are built upon a commitment to continuous and repetitive learning, employing different formats to reinforce the same contents. Scientific studies have demonstrated that one of the best recipes for the success of any e-training program is by precluding occasional training and converting the program into an ongoing and uninterrupted training.
2. Mobile e-training
With omnipresent smartphones in our lives, e-training has become increasingly more at home on our mobile device screens. In this way, learners can focus on their training wherever and whenever they want, which could improve training effectiveness, completion rates and employee engagement.
3. Learner-centric
For many years, e-training had a top-down approach based on the needs identified by department managers together with training and development experts. However, e-training is currently gaining more steam toward personalization: seeking content that really interests individual workers and help them grow professionally. This approach is referred to as user centric.
4. Big Data
While still an incipient phenomenon in which regard not all companies have jumped on the bandwagon yet, the massive source of information provided by big data will continue its growing usefulness for structuring, monitoring and personalizing all e-training programs. Human resources managers will get real-time data on the more complex subjects for their learners, ideal course durations and their course interaction levels. The trend is heading toward using Learning Management Systems (LMS) as if they were Customer Relationship Managers (CRM).
5. Gamification and game-based learning
The latest trend in e-training is related with gaming. Scientific studies have proven that gamification techniques (point systems, competition, levels, badges) increase employee motivation and engagement, which thus makes training more effective. At the same time, game-based learning through video games based on practicing new skills via simulators has become a fun and effective tool to increase brain activity, improve knowledge retention and motivate learners.
