How To Create An Engaging And Interactive Onboarding Experience
We think of innovation as seismic shifts, because we still remember when email was created, when the iPhone hit the market or Augmented Reality became a…well, reality. But it’s easy to forget that one of the most common innovations in a company is the introduction of new employees to your workforce. It happens weekly (if not daily) at most companies, but if you’re not training them in a way that harnesses their excitement, then you’re missing a chance to innovate.
Companies are beginning to use innovations like gamification and immersive training in their onboarding processes. However, a recent study by The Brandon Hall Group found that nearly 50% of the companies surveyed were using very few games in their overall learning content. We know the method works, so why aren’t companies using them?
Let’s take a look at the onboarding gamification AllenComm built with the LEGO. The previous training program needed a redesign because technical requirements shifted from Adobe Flash to HTML5. Instead of continuing to use outdated software, LEGO saw the redesign as an opportunity to embrace the newest technology. The result became an award-winning training success for their employees. The use of new tools made the training easier on the employees and leadership alike, and it also created a more memorable experience.
5 Design Tips That Made A Difference In LEGO’s Transformation
1. Consider The Layout
The presentation of information is the biggest factor in an employee’s ability to comprehend and navigate through a given course. Before placing content within a course itself, take the time to make a visual representation of each piece of information. Organizing content in a way that feels natural and fluid to your learners will help increase their ability to comprehend and retain information.
2. Think Strategically About Empty Space
One common misconception when designing any instructional course is that white space is wasted space. Designers often feel that every section needs to have some piece of relevant content—otherwise, they’re not getting the most of their instructional real estate. The truth is that, when used thoughtfully, white space can help guide the learner to the most relevant parts of the course. The general rule is that each course section needs the right balance. Too much white space and the learner gets lost. Too little, and the learner is overwhelmed.
3. Use Colors To Enhance The Learning Experience
People are highly visual when it comes to learning. Though it’s not necessary for onboarding programs to be as visually entertaining as a cat video on YouTube, using a complementary color palette to enhance your onboarding program is a subtle way to hold the attention of your learners. There are many ways that complementary and contrasting color schemes can be used in a course, but the most straightforward is to simply match a color to a concept. When the color changes along with the concept, it acts as a visual cue for the learner to refocus his or her attention.
4. Keep Icons Universal
Icons like next buttons, start and stop buttons, and home page buttons should maintain a design that is like those that the learner has already encountered. This makes the program easier for the learner to navigate and gives the learner a sense of orientation—it will help them realize where they’ve been, where they are, and where they need to go next.
5. Manage Your Text
The most important thing to consider with text management is overall readability, which can be broken down into two components: font and organization. Fonts are typically found in one of two camps: Serif and sans serif. Sans serif fonts are preferred for online reading, and serif fonts are preferred for reading in print.
Once you’ve chosen a font that will be easy on the learner’s eyes, it’s time to make sure it’s organized efficiently. If your onboarding program requires a lot of reading, breaking the text into concept-specific sections or creating bulleted lists will make your content easier for learners to read.
Conclusion
Download the eBook Employee Onboarding: A Process For The Future Of Work to launch a top-notch new hire training program that's engaging, inspiring, and employee-centered. You can also join the webinar to learn what it takes to improve your teammates' capabilities and build crucial skills.
References:
- Brandon Hall Group
- AllenComm Gamification
- LEGO LEVELS UP ONBOARDING TRAINING WITH CREATIVE, STREAMLINED SOLUTION
