Compliance training helps to prevent costly penalties and raise company policy awareness. In this article, we’ll highlight the top 5 trends in compliance training that eLearning pros should know.
Top 5 Trends In Compliance Online Training
One of the downfalls of compliance online training is its negative connotation. Employees hear the words “mandatory compliance” and automatically disengage. After all, they’ve had to sit through countless boring presentations in the past. The good news is that you can turn compliance topics into engaging and entertaining online training experiences.
Here are the top 5 trends in online compliance training that you should consider for your next course.
Personalized Online Compliance Training Courses
Gone are the days of “one-size-fits-all” online training courses. Now every employee expects personalized online training that caters to their needs. This also applies to compliance training content.
Different job positions and departments must adhere to different regulations and company policies. For example, employees on the manufacturing floor need to know about heavy machinery operations and safety protocols.
However, your sales department requires entirely different compliance online training, such as customer ethics courses. Learning technology gives you the opportunity to deliver compliance online training that is custom tailored to every employee.
Top Tip: Audience research is the key to personalized compliance online training courses. Conduct focus groups, interviews, and on-the-job observations to create relevant online training content. This allows you to identify gaps and training pain points before they escalate into compliance violations.
You also have the opportunity to get direct feedback from your employees and discover their personal preferences, such as how they wish to receive and complete their training.
Shift To Interactive And Immersive Online Training Content
Interactivity and immersion are the future of online training content.
Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and other advanced technologies give eLearning professionals the chance to fully engage their audience. These platforms have a variety of applications in the compliance sector. For example, with geolocation scavenger hunts that feature Augmented Reality objects superimposed over real world environments, employees are able to clean up a hazardous virtual spill using realistic gear without endangering themselves or others.
However, there are ways to integrate immersion and interactivity into your compliance online training course today. Branching scenarios, simulations, and serious games are just a few examples.
These online training activities allow employees to brush up on vital skills and explore compliance issues in a real world context. As such, they have the chance to see the benefits behind the training and how to use their newfound knowledge in the workplace.
Mobile-Friendly Compliance Online Training
Everything is going mobile. So, it’s only natural that compliance training follows suit. Fortunately, there are responsive design tools that allow you to create a master layout of your online training course. The software automatically adjusts the layout and orientation based on the mobile device. For example, employees who prefer tablets get the same experience as laptop users.
However, you still need to ensure that the content itself is mobile-friendly. Make your online compliance courses bite-size so that mandatory training is quick and convenient. This also helps to reduce cognitive overload and increase employee engagement.
Top Tip: Employees have different mobile preferences. Conduct surveys and polls to see which devices they commonly use to access the online training platform. Most Learning and Talent Development platforms also feature accessibility reports. As such, you’re able to save time and money by narrowing your list of mobile learning breakpoints.
Assessing Real World Application Of Acquired Knowledge
You think that your employees know every company policy and government guideline. But can they actually apply what they’ve learned in the real world?
Memorizing the information and being able to use it in context are two entirely different things, which is why activities that assess real-world application of knowledge acquired are becoming increasingly common. Instead of written exams or pop quizzes, organizations use simulations and branching scenarios to test employee performance. They must display their knowledge and skills in a practical way.
For example, the simulation requires employees to carry out a task using realistic tools. This is the ideal alternative for remote workers, as on-the-job observations aren’t an option. Managers and instructors have the opportunity to monitor employee performance from anywhere in the world. They can even track their progress with the help of Learning and Talent Development reports and analytics.
“Just-in-time” Compliance Online Training
Mandatory compliance is already a “nuisance” for employees. They’re dealing with busy schedules and a heavy workload. The last thing they need is an hour-long compliance course that is only accessible at the office. Fortunately, there is a way to make online compliance training more convenient.
“Moment-of-need” online resources give employees the power to access compliance online training content 24/7, even when they are away from the workplace. Create a list of microlearning resources that employees can use to fill the gaps and broaden their knowledge. For example, a member of your team should be able to brush up on sales protocols before they meet with an important client.
Top Tip: Online forums, social media groups, and corporate eLearning blogs are also effective impromptu compliance online training tools. Best of all, they are more interactive and social.
Invite employees to post questions and ideas in the message thread, or even upload their own online content and resource links. This provides informal online training opportunities that improve comprehension and team collaboration. For best results, set ground rules in advance and post weekly prompts to keep the online discussion on-topic.
Are you staying up-to-date with the latest compliance online training trends? Use this article to make your compliance online training courses even more engaging, interactive and memorable. Your employees and your profit margin are bound to benefit.
