How To Conduct eLearning Feedback Interviews
eLearning feedback interviews give you the ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your eLearning strategy. Online learners have the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns in a less public forum. As such, they are more likely to provide honest input that can help you fine tune your eLearning course design. Here are 7 top tips for conducting eLearning feedback interviews with your eLearning audience.
1. Create A List Of Questions That Target eLearning Pain Points
Time is valuable. As such, you need to be fully prepared for your eLearning feedback interview to accommodate online learners' busy schedules. One of the most important aspects of the prep process is compiling a list of questions. More importantly, questions that target specific eLearning pain points and areas for improvement. For example, goals or learning objectives that your online learners are struggling to achieve, or tasks that still have low proficiency levels. You may need to get your eLearning team involved, and use the Big Data you have at your disposal. These online resources can help you pinpoint the main eLearning pain points and prioritize your list of inquiries. It's wise to start with the most significant issues, just in case there isn't enough time to cover each topic.
2. Provide Online Participants With Interview Guidelines In Advance
Just as you need to prepare, your online learners may also need some time to reflect on the online topics, and formulate their own questions and opinions. For this reason, it's always a good idea to provide online participants with guidelines beforehand. Let them know which areas you'll address during the eLearning feedback interview, such as specific eLearning courses or activities. For example, you're going to ask them a series of questions regarding your compliance online training program. This gives them the opportunity to gather their thoughts and think back on past experiences.
3. Select Individuals From Diverse Groups/Departments
Ideally, you should have a good mix of participants for your eLearning feedback interviews. For example, a select group from each department in your organization, or from each eLearning course that you currently offer in your catalog. This allows you to view certain aspects of your eLearning strategy from different viewpoints. As a result, you have the ability to appeal to a broader audience and cater to the individual needs of your online learners. For instance, customer service employees have different goals and expectations than your sales staff. Therefore, their particular needs should be represented during the eLearning feedback interview. Don't forget to add your leadership team, for instance, managers and department heads, to the list of interviewees. These individuals deal with corporate learners on a daily basis, and their observations may give you the insight you need.
4. Choose The Right Video Conferencing Tool
There are times when in-person interviews are out of the question. For example, your online learners are geographically dispersed, or your sales team is always out of the office. These occasions call for an effective video conferencing tool that personalizes the eLearning experience. You can still interview participants face-to-face, even if you're on different continents. There are a myriad of video conferencing tools to choose from. However, most VC platforms offer free online demos or trials so that you can select the ideal solution. Make sure that you provide online participants with the login information in advance, as well as detailed instructions. Keep in mind that certain online learners may be unfamiliar with Skype, Google Hangouts, and other similar tools. You might even consider an online tutorial or step-by-step guide for those who are new to video conferencing.
5. Follow-Up With Online Surveys And Questionnaires
The eLearning feedback process doesn't stop at the end of the interview. You can gather even more information after the fact, thanks to online surveys, polls, and questionnaires. In fact, these eLearning feedback tools are ideal for clarification. As an example, a high percentage of online participants mentioned that they wanted more eLearning interactivity. Therefore, you can create an online survey to determine which interactive elements and exercises they prefer. Online surveys and polls are also easier and less time-consuming, which gives you the opportunity to gather eLearning feedback from a larger audience, including those who are unable to attend the online interviews, but still want to voice their ideas and concerns.
6. Host A Live Webinar To Get Group Feedback
Some people are more comfortable in group settings. They like to bounce ideas off their peers and share feedback in a more social environment, which is why you should host a live webinar to collect group input. Virtual webinars are also a great way to save time, as you can interview multiple online participants at once. For instance, host a webinar for each department or eLearning course, and invite a select group of online learners to attend. Record the event so that those who are unable to make it can still participate in the online discussion. Simply include a link to your social media group or online forum and then invite online learners to leave their thoughts and ideas on those social networking sites.
7. Put Your Big Data Into Action
Once you've collected learner feedback, it's time to turn Big Data into measurable goals. Compile your notes and look for emerging patterns and trends. For example, 75% of your interview participants would like to see more social learning activities in your eLearning course. As such, you might consider group collaboration online projects and social media integration in the future. You can also pair your eLearning feedback interview findings with LMS metrics and analytics to get a more complete picture.
Use this article to prepare for your next eLearning feedback interview and get online learners actively involved in the process. These 7 tips can help you collect the Big Data you need to create more effective eLearning experiences. Best of all, you get to peer inside the minds of your online learners to get a fresh perspective.
Do you want to facilitate knowledge sharing across your organization? Read the article 8 Innovative Ways To Facilitate Peer-Based eLearning Feedback to help you facilitate peer-based feedback as a valuable source of opinions, ideas, and insights for your eLearning course.
