What May Be Missing From Your Online Training Event
Live online training events get employees actively involved and give them the opportunity to interact with remote peers and instructors. They’re able to immerse themselves in the subject matter, regardless of their learning preferences. There’s even room to provide feedback to improve the online training course, as a whole. However, there are some crucial elements that you need to include in your hosting checklist in order to deem it a success. Are any of these elements missing from your online training event?
1. Script And Storyboard
It all begins with a detailed script that keeps the online training event on track and an eLearning storyboard that allows you to prepare supplemental materials. The script should outline the key talking points, but still leave room for audience interaction. For example, fielding questions or responding to comments during the online training event. The eLearning storyboard maps out the images, sounds, and other assets you need to have on-hand. For instance, at the 5-minute mark, you should display an infographic that relates to the topic you’re covering.
2. Supplemental Activities
The host of the online training event gives attendees the basic information they need and addresses their questions. However, the learning doesn’t stop there. Include supplemental activities that allow your corporate learners to put their knowledge into action, such as simulations that enable them to apply new skills or interactive assessments that gauge their level of understanding and provide your organization with valuable Big Data.
3. Visual Aids
You should never rely on the speaker alone. In fact, a successful online training event should include a good mix of visual aids to improve comprehension and retention. For example, infographics that break down tasks or highlight all the skills your customer service reps require. You can also include relevant images, charts, and information recaps to help reinforce the knowledge.
4. Social Media Integration
Create a closed social media group where attendees (and those watching the recording after the fact) can post comments, questions, and helpful links. As an example, attendees share additional resources they found online that tie into the topic or discuss their experiences and how the skills they just learned might be of use to them on the job. Another great way to encourage interaction is to create a hashtag for the online training event.
5. Pre-Event Marketing
Whether you’re hosting an event to increase sign-ups or simply to market your online training event internally, promotion is essential. Send emails to remind attendees about the upcoming online training event. Post about it on social media. Include invites in your company newsletter. You can also build the excitement in the days leading up to the online training event by posting sneak peeks of the content, such as infographics or video clips you’re going to show during the live session.
6. Reliable Event Technology
You can have all your online training event hosting ducks in a row, but it all depends on the technology you’re using for the event. You need reliable event software that can allow you to achieve your goals and get the audience involved. It shouldn’t limit interactivity or prevent you from adding immersive activities and resources. The tech you choose must also support the desired formats and, preferably, have built-in editing tools. Thus, you’re able to modify the presentation before you upload the official recording, like adding audio or visuals to enrich the experience.
7. Audience Participation
The perk of hosting a live online training event is that you get to engage directly with your audience and make them part of the training session. To achieve this, they must be willing to participate, even if it does take some coaxing. Here are just a few ways to encourage attendees to get involved:
a. Open With Compelling Questions
Break the ice with questions that get them thinking about the topic and how it relates to their personal lives. For example, ask how many of them have struggled with a specific task in recent weeks, or how they think their newly acquired skills will benefit their work performance.
b. Host An Impromptu Pop Quiz
Test attendee’s knowledge and see if they were actually paying attention. Pop quizzes are also a great way to enhance the real world value of the online training event by letting them learn from their mistakes. For example, an employee answers a question incorrectly, which prompts them to bridge the knowledge gap on their own.
c. Invite Guest Speakers
This is a bit more involved than other audience participation ideas, but it does take engagement to the next level. Invite in-house experts to host their own events. For example, a member of your HR team can shed light on company policies and the new dress code.
8. Follow-Up And Feedback
It doesn’t end when the speaker wraps up the online training event and takes the last round of questions. You must follow up with attendees and gather feedback to improve your online training event strategy. Send out emails and/or interact with them on social media. Ask their opinions regarding the online training event and if there were any activities or resources missing. Did they clearly understand the presenter? Was the event too long, or not long enough to address the main takeaways? How would they rate the overall experience? This is also your opportunity to pitch upcoming online training events to boost future attendance.
There’s no exact science to hosting a winning online training event. Your target audience, online training goals, and available resources play a pivotal role in the planning process. Survey your employees ahead of time to gauge their expectations. Then start building the buzz to generate more interest and improve attendance. First and foremost, use these 8 tips to ensure that you don’t miss any crucial components.
Don't let your online training webinar go to waste! Read the article Record and Repurpose: 8 Ways To Turn Your Webinar Into A Microlearning Online Training Repository to discover how to record and repurpose your webinar in order to create a versatile "just in time" support tool.
