Digital learning has been around for some time – from online university degrees to the often-uninspiring compliance training that businesses need to do to tick boxes. The Covid-19 pandemic pushed online learning to a new frontier, as millions of students were forced to learn from a distance. Likewise, an accelerated remote working culture spurred many businesses on to consider how best to deliver their once in-person learning and development programmes.
Digital learning does what it says on the tin – it’s a way of learning through digital aids and tech tools – online resources from videos or virtual lessons to e-books and automatic assessments. Traditional digital learning has developed a bad rep in some arenas – dry content that doesn’t stick, making online ‘lessons’ a chore for many employees. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Done right, digital learning can be time efficient, personalised, empowering and even fun. It can have a huge, positive impact on your staff. Here’s how:
Make learning personal
Online learning is often self-directed, meaning staff can progress at a pace that suits them. Aside from essential training, learning can be tailored to the individual, reflecting their needs and interests. It can also be used to set a clear professional pathway. So, if someone wants to progress to a leadership position, their personalised learning plan can reflect this and help them acquire the knowledge and skills needed to progress their career.
Smart online learning platforms can also use AI and machine learning to guide staff through learning that is of most relevance to them, their role and their targets.
Keep your team engaged
The most up-to-date learning platforms use gamification and the appeal of social networks to engage staff in the learning experience, and by tracking their own progress through rewards and recognition, it builds an individual’s accountability for their learning journey. Making content bite-sized and easy to access on-the-go also ups engagement – giving users the option to dip into learning as and when suits them.
Businesses can use their digital learning channels to educate and inform staff on topical issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and racism, making ED&I relevant to people’s everyday lives. Providing information on wider social issues and encouraging staff to engage with it, and with each other, also helps cement a strong company culture.
Grow soft skills within your team, too
Digital learning is not just about essential training, even though compliance is critical. A good online learning platform can build relevant knowledge and expertise, but also nurture soft skills too. Whether it’s collaboration or communication, online learning can help develop these skills both directly and indirectly.
Improve digital literacy
Technology is always changing, and our digital skills need to constantly evolve. The best way to keep up with new technology is to use it, but digital literacy goes beyond just being able to use technology. It’s about adapting to living in an increasingly digital world through embracing a lifelong learning approach, being flexible and open to change.
It helps you make data-driven improvements
Learning and development is critical for getting the best out of your people, and if you want to attract top talent to work for you. But you’re missing a trick if you invest in the best online learning platform and ignore the wealth of data it could provide. If you measure the impact of learning against your business objectives – whether in relation to revenue or staff retention – it can help you understand where and why improvements need to be made. Because a good digital learning programme can have far-reaching benefits.
Digital learning is not the future – it’s here now
The world of work has evolved rapidly in the last two years, and with issues including wage inflation, near-record unemployment and a skills shortage affecting many employers, we need to develop innovative solutions to plug the talent gap.
Many businesses are finding they need to not only upskill but reskill employees. And The World Economic Forum has predicted that globally, over one billion people will need reskilling as soon as 2030. An increasing number of organisations are turning to digital learning as vital for business continuity and growth in the years ahead.
Employers that choose to take a more modern, holistic approach to learning and embed it within the culture of their organisations are acquiring the team skills and core competencies needed to adapt and future-proof their business.
