7 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Developing Compliance Online Training Simulations

7 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Developing Compliance Online Training Simulations
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Summary: Do your employees dread compliance online training? Are there still high accident rates and regulatory violations even though employees are completing the necessary training? If so, then compliance online training simulations may be the ideal solution. But there are some major obstacles you should be aware of beforehand.

Compliance Online Training Simulations: 7 Common Mistakes And How to Avoid Them

Compliance training is viewed by employees as boring and monotonous. Even though it helps them understand the rules and regulations that apply to their job duties. However, real world online training activities offer employees a safe environment to put their knowledge into practice. It makes training interesting and engaging; hence memorable. Well-designed compliance online training simulations help avert the risk of law suits and penalties for companies. But developers should be keen not to make costly mistakes that will discourage employees from completing the course and absorbing the takeaways. Let’s break down the common mistakes to avoid when developing compliance online training simulations.

1. Omitting Audience Research

One of the most common mistakes to avoid when developing compliance training simulations is creating generic content. Audience needs vary, hence online training content should center on their job duties, gaps, and preferences. This type of online training is designed to help employees understand rules and regulations better, through real life situations. Thus, online training content should be tuned to meet the needs of every employee according to the tasks they perform. Audience research allows you to develop simulations that will increase the value of compliance online training courses by providing personalized performance support. For example, the compliance online training simulation for your warehouse team involves safe handling procedures and machinery operations, which aren’t necessarily relevant for your customer service staff.

2. Failing To Use Responsive Design

Nowadays, most people like to access their online training simulations on mobile devices. Which makes sense, since mobile phones and tablets are portable and convenient to use. They allow employees to read and absorb information whenever it´s convenient for them. For example, an employee can study in a bus using their smartphone. Compliance online training simulation content should be fitted into bit-sized modules and be personalized for all groups of learners. You can also use a responsive design authoring tool to save yourself the time and trouble of creating multiple versions. The tool allows you to create a master version of the simulation that automatically adjusts based on the device.

3. Overlooking The Finer Details

Simulations will require you to mimic real world processes. Therefore, you need to create a model with a story that flows well. Every element of the story should stack up and foster a sense of immersion. To do this, you need to pay attention to every detail. This approach will help you avoid poorly written storylines that make employees lose interest. Or, worse yet, devalue the entire online training experience by making it seem disingenuous or over-exaggerated. For example, incorporating characters that use unrealistic dialogue or emergency situations that are completely out of place. On the other hand, you can include surprising twists to your plot and cliff hangers to make the simulation engaging. Additionally, remember to elicit emotion with the online training content you write to make it more powerful.

4. Forgetting To Incorporate Collaboration Into The Online Training Simulations

Though generic online training simulations are to be avoided at all costs, compliance training should still be uniform for every member of a single department. When it comes to the HR department for example, members should learn similar things so that everyone’s on the same page. Create compliance online training simulations that inspire team work and collaboration, such as incorporating a task that requires employees to work in groups. This makes learning fun and aids knowledge retention. You can even include rewards for the winning group in every department to up the ante.

5. Including Too Much Information

Excessive information leads to cognitive overload and impedes understanding and knowledge retention. Compliance online training simulations are meant to bring real life problems closer to the employees. It is natural to want to include as much information about a process as possible, especially if you want them to be fully prepared for anything that comes their way on-the-job. But doing so will only lead to stress and cognitive overwhelm. Always have in mind that online training simulations are supposed to help employees improve their proficiency and performance. They are not about imparting vast quantities of information. Focus on the essentials that employees need to complete tasks and comply with company policies. Then let them practice the skills they require so that they can tackle real world challenges.

6. Forgoing The Fun Factor

Compliance is serious business. However, online training simulations give you the rare opportunity to inject a bit of entertainment into the online training experience. Include interesting characters and touches of humor to lighten the mood. This also helps employees connect so that they get the most from the online training experience. The caveat is that you shouldn’t overdo the fun factor. Employees must still understand that rules and regulations are no laughing matter.

7. Applying Too Much Pressure

It’s true that online training simulations are meant to mimic real world obstacles. However, that doesn’t mean you should stress out your staff. Evoke enough emotion to immerse them in the situation, but don’t put too much pressure on them. For example, there’s a clock ticking away in the background and employees must resolve the issue before it runs out. Or there’s a customer who is being overly hostile toward the employee. Even though it’s all fiction, online training simulations still have the power to frustrate and over-stress employees.

Compliance training online simulations are a brilliant way to help employees understand rules and regulations. They also allow employees to understand the consequences of not following rules by mimicking real world repercussions. Avoid these costly mistakes to create simulations that impart valuable online training experience to keep employees fully engaged in your online training program.

Does compliance online training elicit yawns and eye rolls? Read the article 8 Secrets To Spark Excitement In Compliance Online Training to get your employees enthusiastic about your next mandatory compliance online training course.