How to convert in-person training to online training

Like most companies, yours is currently facing sweeping changes brought about by the adoption of new remote or hybrid work setups. During the peak of the pandemic,  88% of companies worldwide made a quick transition to remote working over the span of just a few weeks. And most of those changes are here to stay.

The sudden shift to working remotely creates new needs for essential job-related skills. Your organization’s employees need to upskill quickly, so they have the know-how to perform in a remote work environment. At the same time, you’ve got to continue routine training to help keep the business moving.

How can L&D and HR professionals convert classroom training to virtual training to reach employees who are working from home? It’s time to rapidly shift our classroom training to online employee training.

Need help getting started? You’re not alone! Here’s a quick guide and some helpful tips to bring you up to speed on making the switch to virtual training.

Benefits of online employee training

If your organization has not embraced online learning in the past, there’s no better time than now.

Online training uses web-based technologies to provide knowledge to your employees. The possibilities are endless. You can use e-learning authoring software to create course content ranging from video tutorials to step-by-step guides, microlearning modules, interactive learning games, quizzes, and more.

A key advantage of converting face-to-face training to online training is making use of e-learning’s interactive nature. Employees feel empowered because they can access and use the knowledge on-demand, whenever they need it most. Plus, you can take this a step further and involve your employees in the training content creation process – an approach we like to call Employee-generated Learning.

Switch to online training: do’s and don’ts

When shifting from in-person to online learning, start by determining which virtual learning methods are best for your organization.

Here are some “do’s and don’ts” to get you thinking in the right direction:

What to do:

• • Use cost-effective, cloud-based e-learning software like Easygenerator that’s easy to access and use.
  • Leverage your most valuable asset: your employees. Encourage team members to contribute to a shared knowledge base that their coworkers can access.
  • Look for that 20% of your employees who thrive from sharing their knowledge with others and are eager to contribute. These are your true allies in the shift to online employee training.
  • Set clear learning objectives and use these as a guide for creating learning content
  • Make learning social and interactive by turning your online learning platform into a space for coworkers to share, collaborate and exchange ideas with each other.

What not to do:

• • Don’t simply upload existing PowerPoint presentations and expect learners to flip through these on their own. This is not an engaging way to present new information, and it will be counterproductive to your online training goals.
  • Don’t simply “convert” face-to-face training to virtual training. Instead, “transform” your approach: explore and embrace the possibilities that online training and the virtual classroom offer.
  • Don’t waste time with overly complicated course authoring software. Pick a zero-learning curve solution like Easygenerator, so you’re not stuck training people on how to use the training software itself.
  • Don’t panic. This will take some getting used to. Remind yourself and your colleagues that you’re all experimenting with a new approach. This will create an atmosphere in which it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them.

Switch to online employee training with Easygenerator

Once your organization discovers the benefits of online training, you’ll wonder why you didn’t embrace it sooner. Online training even works great in combination with face-to-face training (a method known as “blended learning”), giving you the best of both worlds.

Ready to get started? Kick off your online employee training program with the best e-learning authoring tools!